It is not convenience, it’s being able to use a device at all in some cases. In others, firmware (updates) contain vital security and stability fixes.
I agree that proprietary software should not exist. I just think that the way you advocate treating firmware harms that goal.
But then the proprietary firmware is in the device. Why do you think it makes a difference if you load it at boot time?
It just restricts your options.
Also if you care about security, install goddamn firmware updates. The firmware on the devices is only going to get more insecure. If the company wanted to insert a backdoor, they have done it already. If an attacker wants to attack your device, an outdated device is simpler to compromise using publicly available info than to go the expensive route through the manufacturer. The first doesn’t even need to be a nation state adversary.
If you want to protect yourself against rogue devices, IOMMU and microkernels are a better and more sensible solution.
People like me can’t change what big companies do. They just do it, and get their money from other companies and consumers who don’t care.
I personally don’t want to watch while free operating systems become increasingly unusable and insecure. Let’s instead use the devices to our advantage as much as possible.
No. You’re using a distro which enables you to use the devices you bought. If every distro would follow the misguided path, you would be unable to use your GPU with a libre operating system at all.
Nobody is stopping you to remove your firmware. Right now you’re not doing it, because you want actually functional hardware.
The proprietary firmware is already there, and if you don’t update it, your libre system becomes more insecure and less reliable. Distributing updates for those devices is a net gain for software freedom.
I am not saying that we need to replace every non-libre firmware, I am saying that not using firmware updates is hurting free software adoption and doesn’t advance user freedom.
I agree! But in at least one case the FSF’s understanding/handling of free software is ineffective: firmware. Especially with boot chain security being increasingly implemented in a user freedom hostile way, the focus as presented by the FSF is imo too narrow.
I am pointing out that user-controlled computing and user freedom is in a bad shape. That’s not nay-saying, since there’s a way forward: open hardware and offline-first/p2p software.
No one gets to decide what i run on my device
(Except your device’s manufacturer)
No one gets to decide where i run my app
(Except your cloud/SaaSS provider or proprietary app developer)
No one gets to decide what must be deleted
(Except your cloud/SaaSS provider or proprietary app developer)
!I assume this was your point already, I am just agenda posting over here :3!<
Declarative OS, tmpfs root, disabled sudo
How do you change anything about the OS/do updates? iirc nixos requires elevated privileges for that?
With Debian it’s just the apt-tor package, and the project maintains an official list at… onion.debian.org iirc?
I don’t know if serving onion traffic is more expensive for Debian/mirror maintainers so idk if this is something everybody should use
ARM I guess, or increasingly RISC-V