GNU Linux-libre 6.12-gnu

[Freedo]

Hello, free world,

*waves wings*

I'm Freedo, the spokespenguin for the GNU Linux-libre project.

*yawns*

I was supposed to have let you know last night that release 6.12-gnu is
already available, but...  oops!  I slept through last night's release.
These long days in Antarctica's Summer are so disorienting...

*yawns*

git://linux-libre.fsfla.org/releases.git/
tags {scripts,sources,logs}/v6.12-gnu

The cleaning-up scripts for this release haven't been modified since
rc7, when they were first published.


Source tarballs, incremental patches, scripts, logs and compiled
packages are already available at:

- https://www.fsfla.org/selibre/linux-libre/download/releases/6.12-gnu/

- https://www.fsfla.org/selibre/linux-libre/download/freesh/ (.deb)

- https://www.fsfla.org/selibre/linux-libre/download/rpmfreedom/ (.rpm)


# Changes to the cleaning up

- neutered blob-demanding code in CPM/QE QMC SoC, Realtek 8852BE-VT
  wifi, amlogic bluetooth protocol support, amcc qt2025 phy,
  aw96103/aw96105 awinic proximity sensor, TI TLV320AIC31XX codecs

*yawns*

- updated cleaning up of Renesas xHCI controllers, and of Intel ISH
  (Integrated Sensor Hub) HID,

- updated blob names to clean up in drivers for MHI PCI host, Adreno
  620/621, r8169, Qualcomm q6v5 remoteproc, rtw8852c, rtw8922a

- dropped cleaning up of ks7010 and Intel SkyLake audio; both drivers
  were removed upstream

*yawns*

- cleaned up blob names in TI PRU am642 and Qualcomm arm64 dts files

- clean up a newly-added sourceless GPLed program whose object code is
  disguised as a sequence of hex numbers

*gulp*


# Artwork

We have two new pictures for this release!

One show me pressure-cleaning some very dirty and very big hard drives.
Cleaning them took a lot of work!
https://linux-libre.fsfla.org/~freedo/#news

The other shows me in a mirror, so it made perfect sense to place it in
the mirrors section of the website.
https://linux-libre.fsfla.org/~freedo/#mirrors

Pictures by tutor Jason Self.


# More bad news

The GPL-licensed binary-only program I mentioned in the last release,
that wasn't removed in time for upstream 6.11 despite contributors'
patches, remains there in upstream 6.12, and now it has company of
another GPL-licensed binary-only program in the same driver!

Were they LLM/ML models, they might even qualify as open source(less)!

*ba dum tss*

Meanwhile, upstream author-itarians are introducing DRM-like means to
block loading of drivers that respect users' freedoms, that users are
legitimately entitled to build and link into their running kernels.  The
intent, rather than empowering users, or respecting their freedom to
choose what hardware to use and what software to run on it, is to
strongarm developers into adopting a license that doesn't defend users'
freedoms as fiercely.
https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20241114103133.547032-4-ukleinek@kernel.org/

Other upstream author-itarians are pushing for the kernel to tell on
you, the user, if you choose to avoid running untrusted code on your own
device, labeling your system as security-tainted.  Information about
potential security issues is good, but pushing for the installation of
untrustworthy binary blobs isn't.  If we're not careful, this
information will end up used by local and remote programs to refuse to
cooperate with us who insist in controlling our computing.
https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/7fc07eff-b4a1-4f8d-a9de-dba057d5c9c6@intel.com/
https://jxself.org/by-any-other-name.shtml

They misrepresent as security the users' blind trust on engineers and
companies they don't seem to trust themselves.  Such blind trust makes
users vulnerable to the very providers of hardware and software.
https://www.fsfla.org/~lxoliva/#specmelt

If they really cared about users' security, they'd be providing us all
with transparency and means to defend ourselves from present and future,
known and yet-to-be-uncovered security threats, rather than blocking the
development and the installation of improved versions.  Such blocking
enables them to enshittify harder the hardware they've already sold but
wish to control as if it was still their own.
https://www.fsfla.org/~lxoliva/#Unshittify


# Upcoming anniversary

FSFLA turns 19 next weekend!

It can't accept your online donations.

But the original FSF can.  It has kindly hosted our server for some 15
years and counting, and their end-of-year fundraiser is underway.

Please support them however you can!
https://www.fsf.org/appeal


# Keeping in touch

Follow me in the Fediverse for fresh news about GNU Linux-libre.
https://mastodon.social/@freedo

My tutors jxself and lxo are also on IRC: #gnu-linux-libre on libera.chat.

There's also a mailing list you're welcome to join:
https://www.fsfla.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-libre

That was all, everyone.  Be Free! with GNU Linux-libre.

*waves wings*

*yawns*


# Rolling credits

What is GNU Linux-libre?
------------------------

  GNU Linux-libre is a Free version of the kernel Linux (see below),
  suitable for use with the GNU Operating System in 100% Free
  GNU/Linux-libre System Distributions.
  http://www.gnu.org/distros/

  It removes non-Free components from Linux, that are disguised as
  source code or distributed in separate files.  It also disables
  run-time requests for non-Free components, shipped separately or as
  part of Linux, and documentation pointing to them, so as to avoid
  (Free-)baiting users into the trap of non-Free Software.
  http://www.fsfla.org/anuncio/2010-11-Linux-2.6.36-libre-debait

  Linux-libre started within the gNewSense GNU/Linux distribution.
  It was later adopted by Jeff Moe, who coined its name, and in 2008
  it became a project maintained by FSF Latin America.  In 2012, it
  became part of the GNU Project.

  The GNU Linux-libre project takes a minimal-changes approach to
  cleaning up Linux, making no effort to substitute components that
  need to be removed with functionally equivalent Free ones.
  Nevertheless, we encourage and support efforts towards doing so.
  http://libreplanet.org/wiki/LinuxLibre:Devices_that_require_non-free_firmware

  Our mascot is Freedo, a light-blue penguin that has just come out
  of the shower.  Although we like penguins, GNU is a much greater
  contribution to the entire system, so its mascot deserves more
  promotion.  See our web page for their images.
  http://linux-libre.fsfla.org/

  If you are the author of an awesome program and want to join us in
  writing Free (libre) Software, please consider making it an official
  GNU program and become a GNU Maintainer.  You can find instructions
  on how to do so at https://www.gnu.org/help/evaluation.  We look
  forward to hacking with you! :)


What is Linux?
--------------

  Linux is a clone of the Unix kernel [...]

(snipped from Documentation/admin-guide/README.rst)