FOSS and FOH
maddog's Doghouse
Free hardware is a noble concept, but expenses associated with the hardware manufacturing process means your single-board system will never be quite as a free as the software that runs on it.
From time to time, I hear people talk about "Free" or "Open" Hardware and what it means to them. After all, we have Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and shouldn't some of the same ideas of collaboration that surround FOSS apply to hardware? In many ways, Free and Open Hardware (FOH) could be like FOSS. Creators of hardware could collaborate with potential users to help determine the characteristics of the hardware. Developers who want to use the hardware to make a product could help test the functionality and interfaces of the hardware to make sure it actually works and meets their needs.
However some of the features of FOSS do not apply equally to hardware. For example, if you give away a copy of your hardware, it is a physical thing you are giving away, and, unlike software, it probably will cost money to replace it.
Costs to prototype and manufacture hardware have dropped over the years (as has the cost of the hardware itself), so it is easier than ever to design hardware outside of a large company. However, there are still significant costs for the development of hardware. Let's look at some of the costs of developing a single board computer (SBC). I will warn you that this will be from a very high-level view.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.