FSF Talks Up Libreboot As New Coreboot Downstream

Libreboot is a de-blobbed version of Coreboot designed to run on the Free Software Foundation's first endorsed laptop.

The laptop that the Free Software Foundation awarded last year as the first laptop they endorsed that "respected your freedom" was the Gluglug X60, old refurbished models of the IBM ThinkPad X60. These old laptops that were recommended by the FSF came loaded with Core Duo/Solo processors and GMA950 graphics along with other outdated specs, but were free of needing any firmware blobs or binary drivers. The Gluglug X60 ships with Coreboot as its boot-loader and since the initial announcement the Gluglug company has evolved into offering a "Libreboot" project.

Libreboot is a downstream project of Coreboot that aims to remove any binary firmware blobs from the Coreboot source tree. Upstream Coreboot allows for firmware blobs to be part of their source tree for certain chipsets where the proprietary blob is the only support option. The Libreboot effort is described as, "not a fork of Coreboot, despite misconceptions of this fact. Libreboot (downstream supplier) is a parallel effort which works closely with and rebases on the latest Coreboot (upstream supplier) every so often."

While Coreboot today supports a wide range of laptops and motherboards, among the hardware supported by the de-blobbed Libreboot is just the ThinkPad T60/X60, MacBook 2.1, and other select systems based upon older Intel hardware. The Gluglug X60 has also been renamed to the Libreboot X60.

The Free Software Foundation has out a new blog post promoting replacing your proprietary BIOS with Libreboot. The Libreboot upstream is at Libreboot.org.