Kernel Developers Petition Against Closed Source Drivers
Kernel developer Greg Kroah-Hartman has invited other kernel developers to sign a petition against closed source kernel modules.
This is a permanent issue for the Linux Foundation's technical board, Kroah-Hartman says. The petition is an attempt to present it as simple and understandable a way as possible. When people asked why developers had problems with closed source modules, developers could simply point to the petition.
In the statement the kernel developers call on hardware manufacturers to do without closed source modules in the kernel. Closed source modules are undesirable and damaging to the "Linux ecosystem", and to users and enterprises that rely on Linux. By distributing closed source code manufacturers not only negate the benefits of Linux, they also force users to choose competing vendors, the petition says.
The petition ends with an appeal to manufacturers to revise their policy and support customers by providing open source code. Some 135 kernel developers have signed the petition by now; the Linux Foundation supports the petition with additional background material.
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
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for two weeks.
-
RingReaper Malware Poses Danger to Linux Systems
A new kind of malware exploits modern Linux kernels for I/O operations.
-
Happy Birthday, Linux
On August 25, Linux officially turns 34.
-
VirtualBox 7.2 Has Arrived
With early support for Linux kernel 6.17 and other new additions, VirtualBox 7.2 is a must-update for users.
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.
-
Debian 13.0 Officially Released
After two years of development, the latest iteration of Debian is now available with plenty of under-the-hood improvements.
-
Upcoming Changes for MXLinux
MXLinux 25 has plenty in store to please all types of users.
-
A New Linux AI Assistant in Town
Newelle, a Linux AI assistant, works with different LLMs and includes document parsing and profiles.
-
Linux Kernel 6.16 Released with Minor Fixes
The latest Linux kernel doesn't really include any big-ticket features, just a lot of lines of code.
-
EU Sovereign Tech Fund Gains Traction
OpenForum Europe recently released a report regarding a sovereign tech fund with backing from several significant entities.