Libreboot
| Original author(s) | Leah Rowe |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Leah Rowe / The Libreboot project |
| Initial release | December 12, 2013 |
| Stable release | 20160907
/ September 7, 2016 |
| Repository | notabug.org/libreboot/libreboot |
| Platform | x86-64, IA-32, ARMv7 |
| Type | Firmware |
| License | GNU GPLv3 |
| Website | libreboot.org |
Libreboot is a project creating free software alternatives to the proprietary the BIOS firmware found on modern smartphones, laptops, desktop and laptop computers and other computing devices. It consists of a very lightweight system that does only the minimum tasks required to boot a modern (Linux-based) operating system. The number of computers and devices that are supposed as of April 2021 is severely limited.
Libreboot does not contain any closed-source binary blobs.
Operating System Support[edit]
Linux is the only operating system Libreboot supports though there are those who have managed to make it work with BSD variants. Windows is not supported.
Hardware Support[edit]
The hardware Libreboot supports is severely limited. You're pretty much out of luck if you don't have a ThinkPad or one of less than a hand-full of supported desktop motherboards.
Laptops:
- Apple MacBook 1.1
- Apple MacBook 2.1
- Asus Chromebook C201
- Lenovo ThinkPad X60
- Lenovo ThinkPad X60s
- Lenovo Thinkpad X60 Tablet
- Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (models with ATI GPUs cannot be used due to proprietary video BIOS)
- Lenovo ThinkPad X200
- Lenovo ThinkPad X200s (some exceptions)
- Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet
- Lenovo ThinkPad R400
- Lenovo ThinkPad T400
- Lenovo ThinkPad T400s
- Lenovo ThinkPad T500
Desktop motherboards and computers:
- Apple iMac 5,2
- Asus KCMA-D8
- Intel D510MO
- Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L
Server motherboards:
- Asus KFSN4-DRE
- Asus KGPE-D16
History[edit]
The Libreboot project was created by Leah Rowe by forking the somewhat similar Coreboot project in 2013. Her motivation was to make a fully free software version of Coreboot without the binary firmware blobs the Coreboot projects BIOS alternatives include.
Libreboot maintainer Leah Rowe published an article in support of Richard Stallman titled "Defend Richard Stallman!" following character assassination attempts by mainstream media in March 2021.
Links[edit]
The Libreboot website is at https://libreboot.org/
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