Free software: Difference between revisions

In 2006, [[OpenBSD]] started the first campaign against the use of [[binary blobs]], in [[kernel (computer science)|kernels]]. Blobs are usually freely distributable [[device driver]]sdrivers for hardware from vendors that do not reveal driver source code to users or developers. This restricts the users' freedom to effectively modify the software and distribute modified versions. Also, since the blobs are undocumented and may have [[computer bug|bugs]], they pose a security risk to any [[operating system]] whose kernel includes them. The proclaimed aim of the campaign against blobs is to collect hardware documentation that allows developers to write free software drivers for that hardware, ultimately enabling all free operating systems to become or remain blob-free.

The issue of binary blobs in the [[Linux kernel]] and other device drivers motivated some developers in Ireland to launch [[gNewSense]], a GNU/Linux distribution with all the binary blobs removed. The project received support from the [[Free Software Foundation]].