[Trisquel-users] Re : Initramfs problems ...
So you are actually running the same kernel images in both distributions. Interesting. But, yes, as soon as at least one of the distributions uses a package manager, it must become a mess. About the driver, you should try the latest Linux-libre kernel: http://jxself.org/linux-libre/ However: $ du -h /boot/*4.14.7* 212K/boot/config-4.14.7-gnu 29M /boot/initrd.img-4.14.7-gnu 3,8M/boot/System.map-4.14.7-gnu 5,6M/boot/vmlinuz-4.14.7-gnu
Re: [Trisquel-users] Initramfs problems ...
I had originally intended to use the shared /boot partition to simplify things, so I could use the same kernel and grub.cfg to boot up both systems. But, that doesn't seem to work, because Trisquel uses an initramfs and LFS doesn't. So, my /boot partition is becoming a bit of a mess of different kernel versions. I guess I could look at giving each system its own /boot folder on their /root partitions and see if that is easier to manage. However, it's not just about the lack of space on /root - the fact that Synaptic is updating the initram image for the newest installed kernel, rather than the one that is running, is annoying. Although, the root cause of that is the fact that the trackpad driver with the newer Trisquel 8 kernel is bad. So, to solve that, I would probably need to send a bug report to the kernel devs ... problems, more problems ... :)
Re: [Trisquel-users] How Do I Revert Back To The Default Trisquel 7 Kernel?
I was surprised too. Glad everything worked out.
Re: [Trisquel-users] How To Get Multiple Displays Working With Docking Station?
When I have one monitor plugged directly into the laptop and one monitor plugged into the dock, I can see both screens. When both monitors are plugged into the dock, the monitors operate in only mirrored mode at 1920 x 1080, which is the resolution of the monitor with the lower resolution. The second monitor has a 1920 x 1200 native resolution. When I try to change their resolutions when both monitors are plugged into the dock, i am not given the option to change the monitors resolution for the higher resolution screen probably because both screens are mirrored.
[Trisquel-users] Libre Thinkpad with higher resolution?
Does anybody know if there is a Libre-compatible Thinkpad which can achieve a resolution higher than 1366x768? I read somewhere that one can theoretically find a T500 which has such a screen, but all of the ones I have found have something other than Core 2s on them.
[Trisquel-users] Re : Initramfs problems ...
I do not understand why having another system would prevent you from having /boot on the root partition. Anyway, it probably is easy to expand the /boot partition. It depends on the types of filesystems on the adjacent partitions (in particular, XFS cannot be shrunk) and on whether they are full as well (they probably are not). You can use GParted (or a CLI: 'parted' or 'fdisk' or ...).
[Trisquel-users] Re : How To Get Multiple Displays Working With Docking Station?
Assuming Trisquel 8 has the same utilities as Trisquel 7: are all screens listed in "Displays" (in the "System Settings")? Have you tried changing their resolutions?
[Trisquel-users] Re : How Do I Revert Back To The Default Trisquel 7 Kernel?
So you actually removed the kernel that was running? Interesting. I thought APT would not let you do that.
[Trisquel-users] How To Get Multiple Displays Working With Docking Station?
When I was running Trisquel 8 alpha 2, I was able to follow these instructions to get multiple monitors working through my Thinkpad dock: https://askubuntu.com/questions/638875/how-to-get-multiple-displays-working-with-docking-station ... Recently I decided to install Trisquel 7 and now the above technique seems to have no effect. Does anyone have any ideas how I can get this working with Trisquel 7? How can I come to a conclusion on how to troubleshoot this?
Re: [Trisquel-users] Initramfs problems ...
Well, I have some complications, because I have Trisquel 8 and a Linux From Scratch system that I am booting on the same laptop, so I want to have a separate /boot partition. I don't like grub-mkconfig either ... it usually just makes a mess of everything :-(
Re: [Trisquel-users] Initramfs problems ...
I renamed and moved the update-initramfs binary, then replaced it with a short script that removes the old image first and then runs the relocated tool for the running kernel version. Seems to do the trick! :)
[Trisquel-users] Re : Initramfs problems ...
Nowadays, 100MB is not enough for /boot. Do not bypass the problem: solve it. I would try to boot a live system, copy (with 'cp -a') the content of the /boot partition on the respective directory on the root partition. You can then delete the small /boot partition (e.g., using GParted) and extend the root partition (or any other adjacent partition) to not lose the freed space. Then you would have to remove the respective line in /etc/fstab. Finally, you need to 'chroot' (see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2/Installing#via_ChRoot) the root partition to then 'update-grub'. Reinstalling is an option too... And, of course, always backup your data.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Maybe its time to rethink Mozilla products
tegskywal...@hotmail.com wrote: They are a "non-profit" that accepts money for the corporation. A "non-profit" that will force your search engine to change depending on their business deal. Perhaps you and Bryan Lunduke need to learn more about incorporation and non-profit status so you can put together a complete argument that makes sense. In any case, your inchoate expression above doesn't in any way clarify why we should question running Mozilla's free software. Even Lunduke's vague non-argument about non-profits is one he says (around 7m53s) "doesn't make them [Mozilla] untrustworthy". You and Lunduke use the word "force" to refer to how a free software program runs, this makes no sense. If you don't like how Firefox sets your default browser or anything else Firefox does, you have the freedom to change it to make it behave how you wish. Even proprietary software supporters wouldn't agree with your use of the word "force" here because they'd point out that you have other options of browsers (for them, switching to some nonfree browser where you have no software freedom is considered to be an alternative). Ironic that with software freedom you have more choices to make something you don't really need (trust in Mozilla) come true. If you read the link or watched the YouTube video, Mozilla has the power to remotely force extensions and that resulted in the Mr. Robot controversy. I did read the article and watch Lunduke's video ramble. There's plenty of anger there but very little substance, and it's all predicated on something completely unnecessary -- trusting Mozilla. The Lunduke Show video ramble[1] claims "Mozilla is not trustworthy" but never explains why one needs to trust them in light of software freedom. Running software one didn't write has always posed a threat to users. Running code without fully knowing what that code does is inherently dangerous. With nonfree software all one has is blind faith that the proprietor won't screw them. But with free software users are granted permission to run, inspect, share, and modify the code. Users can choose to make sure it is acceptable to them. This means with free software one doesn't need to trust the publisher. Both the article and video seem more interested in trying to manufacture an controversy out of very little; the solution is clear and has remained the same for decades -- use your software freedom to vet the software you run, and respect software freedom for others so they can help themselves and possibly help you vet free software too. It's not clear how this issue with Looking Glass rises to something more serious than a bungled PR effort and poor communication from Mozilla. TheVerge's article doesn't address this and neither does the ridiculously long Lunduke YouTube video. What's also telling is how neither the article nor the video you pointed us to even get into the practical consequences of valuing software freedom for its own sake. Inspecting and improving the code mean that we don't need to trust Firefox. Neither that article nor that video get into how nonfree software published by known NSA partners (such as Apple's Safari, Google's Chrome, and Microsoft's MSIE & Edge but there's no reason to limit this to web browsers) pose a considerably greater threat to users than any free software (regardless of publisher). I don't recall seeing anything railing on them (neither in the specific sources you pointed us to nor in any other posting) despite that those security problems are more serious because the software is nonfree; users lack permission to inspect for the problem, modify the software to fix the problem, or distribute a fix to others. Can you provide a reference in the code for the Looking Glass add-on that grants Mozilla the power you claim they have in light of the fact that one can choose to edit out Looking Glass (if they're running a version of Firefox where this is included) or not install Looking Glass (if they're running a version of Firefox where Looking Glass is not included)? Mozilla implemented the encrypted media extensions before it was a W3C standard. They also fired an employee for not agreeing with them 100% The first item conflicts with the freedom users have to make Firefox behave as they wish, and the second item isn't clear why that should give one cause to avoid using Mozilla's free software. [1] Lunduke is pretty clueless here: consistently mispronouncing the word "Mozilla" as "Motzilla" (there's no "t" in their name), directly contradicting his own thesis (around 6m30s) in neighboring sentences: "This is not an opinion on my part. I guess that my opinion is that they're not trustworthy based on these facts...". He does this again in his own ignorance of the terms "foundation" and "corporation" around 7m where he seems to be finding fault with the difference between what he reads into the terms he doesn't define versus what
Re: [Trisquel-users] How Do I Revert Back To The Default Trisquel 7 Kernel?
I wasn't able to access GRUB (i'm not sure how?) ... I just did "sudo apt-get purge" on the linux libre kernel with the help of "uname -r" to remove that version of it. Apparently I still had the lowlatency kernel on my machine, so after rebooting I checked my kernel and it was switched. So, in short I basically used like 10% of the info you provided. Thanks for the help though :) It turns out the linux-libre kernel was the issue! I'm using a thiunkpad sitting on a dock. My monitors were plugged into the dock. It seems the linux-libre kernel doesn't like the dock when it comes to Trisquel 7. When I was using Trisquel 8 beta, it worked. I think I have a bug report! :)
[Trisquel-users] Re : Maybe its time to rethink Mozilla products
There are other problems. See the "Blocked on" list on the left of https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=28291
[Trisquel-users] Re : "Corrupt or invalid kernel image"
Please refrain to present proprietary software as a solution. The objective of the Trisquel project and of the free software movement as a whole is to free the users. Given that objective, proprietary software is never a solution. It is the problem.
[Trisquel-users] Turning off built-in monitor during boot from Trisquel 7 USB
Last night I was helping my buddy fix his laptop. He's been running Ubuntu for a few years, and I was trying to convince him to try Trisquel. The built-in screen on his laptop is cracked and completely unusable, and he uses a Panasonic TV as his monitor, connected via an HDMI cable. I was able to boot up from a Trisquel 7 boot USB, and the initial menu displayed on the TV, but when we actually booted into the live OS, it wouldn't display on the TV and we were stuck. We ended up reinstalling Ubuntu 17.10, because its live USB displayed on both screens by default :-( So my first question is, is there a way to boot into a live Trisquel 7 and get it to turn off the built-in monitor, and use a screen connected via HDMI? My second question is, can the Trisquel 8 live OS be configured to making 'mirror display' the default behaviour when there is an external screen plugged in, or at least give the user some display options in the live OS boot menu?
Re: [Trisquel-users] uruk gnu/linux 2.0
Can I upgrade from an Uruk 2.0 beta to the final release, or do I need to reinstall from scratch?
Re: [Trisquel-users] Quantum kicks ass
Does anyone know if or when Abrowser 57 will be available for Trisquel 7.0?
Re: [Trisquel-users] After installing Trisquel 7 dual boot with Ubuntu , Grub is asking for password to boot Ubuntu
I really hope this user-unfriendly GRUB behaviour is fixed in Trisquel 8.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Minifree's Libreboot X200 laptop comes with Trisquel pre-installed. Now with other keyboard layouts available, and free stickers
The main thing that's changed is mobile devices. Most people now own a handheld computer that can't currently be used with free code software, and people I know are now getting rid of their proper computers (desktop/ laptops) in favour of using their non-free handheld computer. Many newer desktops and laptops come with Restricted Boot and other hardware restrictions that make it difficult to replace the default OS with a free code OS, just as it is with mobile devices. IMHO this is happening for the same reason that computing is being moved off the user's device and "into the cloud". It's a way of defending the business models that defend on proprietary software. A handful of giant corporations control most of the computer hardware supply chain (Apple, Intel, AMD, NVidious etc), which makes it much easier for them to get away with designing hardware in ways that take away user freedoms. Free hardware designs are more likely to produce hardware that is fully functional using only free code software. But they also allow a greater diversity of businesses to manufacture and distribute hardware, including those like Minifree and ThinkPenguin that champion software freedom. So unlike when Stallman wrote the essay above, free hardware designs are becoming as important as free code software, because they may soon become the only way to run free code software.
[Trisquel-users] Initramfs problems ...
I seem to be having some problems with automatic initramfs updates when I install/upgrade certain packages via Synaptic. Firstly: I have a newer 4.8.0 Trisquel 8 kernel installed, but I didn't like it (the trackpad driver seems worse), so I've gone back to using the 3.13.0 kernel from Trisquel 8. However, when Synaptic runs update-initramfs, it is trying to update the newest version (4.8.0), which I am not using. Secondly: My /boot partition is only 100MB and fairly full up. So, when update-initramfs runs, it inevitably fails, because there isn't enough space to create a new initrd image. I can run it myself, if I delete the old initrd image first, to make space. So, is it possible to customize the way that Synaptic is updating the initramfs, or failing that, just stop it from trying to update it completely, so I can update it myself?
[Trisquel-users] Re : Minifree's Libreboot X200 laptop comes with Trisquel pre-installed. Now with other keyboard layouts available, and free stickers
Great to see that X200 is coming back in your store. Too bad I bought myself one unflashed a month ago... :(
Re: [Trisquel-users] Thoughts on- and questions regarding Trisquel Mini on MacBookPro9, 1
I don't know if it's the case with Trisquel Mini, but with some other live CDs I've found that they'll make the ISO smaller by only containing what's necessary to try out and install.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Maybe its time to rethink Mozilla products
I agree with most of t3g's criticisms of Mozilla, but I have to correct the erroneous claims about RiseUp. "[Mozilla] own the RiseUp email site" Mozilla have given some funding to RiseUp (mainly to fund the development of the Tails GNU-Linux distro AFAIK), but they do *not* own RiseUp. RiseUp is run by a self-governing collective of radical geeks, some of whom were/ are involved in the Indymedia open-publishing news network. "RiseUp is very inclusive and will kick you out if you do not follow their strict ideology." RiseUp is a hosted service provider, not a piece of software. They have every right to decide who they will and won't provide services to.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Thoughts on- and questions regarding Trisquel Mini on MacBookPro9, 1
Worked like a charm, I also used your other comments about setting startup-backlight. Thanks for everyhting! :)
Re: [Trisquel-users] Thoughts on- and questions regarding Trisquel Mini on MacBookPro9, 1
Thanks, also, I figured I had to type gmux instead of intel, I|m good now :)
Re: [Trisquel-users] Minifree's Libreboot X200 laptop comes with Trisquel pre-installed. Now with other keyboard layouts available, and free stickers
What’s changed? Free is not gratis.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Minifree's Libreboot X200 laptop comes with Trisquel pre-installed. Now with other keyboard layouts available, and free stickers
I agree. Things have changed a lot since 1999 (Intel ME, for example). With all the compromised chips flying around these days, free hardware is extremely important, otherwise there won't be any free software/firmware any more ..
Re: [Trisquel-users] Thoughts on- and questions regarding Trisquel Mini on MacBookPro9, 1
You can type the commands in any terminal window. XTerm should do.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Maybe its time to rethink Mozilla products
New versions of Firefox have a setting in Preferences > Privacy & Security: "Allow Firefox to install and run studies". If I remember correctly, it is checked by default. I just wonder if they installed this add-on only for those users who had this setting checked. I read Mozilla's apology linked by bobstechsite, but this sentence sounds as if they would install the add-on anyway: "Instead of giving users the choice to install this add-on, we initially pushed an update to Firefox that installed the “Looking Glass” add-on for English speaking users."
Re: [Trisquel-users] Thoughts on- and questions regarding Trisquel Mini on MacBookPro9, 1
Where shall I write this stuff? In XTerm? Cheers
Re: [Trisquel-users] Thoughts on- and questions regarding Trisquel Mini on MacBookPro9, 1
No, I really don't, lol :p Hmm... interesting, there might be differences in experience on the "live-dvd-trial" and the real deal?
Re: [Trisquel-users] Thoughts on- and questions regarding Trisquel Mini on MacBookPro9, 1
The screen brightness must be adjusted manually. https://trisquel.info/en/forum/how-adjust-brightness-trisquel-mini#comment-98227 Unable to get monitor information, install x11-xserver-utils. https://trisquel.info/en/forum/desktop-problem-no-programs
Re: [Trisquel-users] Thoughts on- and questions regarding Trisquel Mini on MacBookPro9, 1
You really don't see $25 at the link I gave? I was referring to whatever you see under "System Tools" in the menu. There should be a tools for whatever you're trying to achieve. Hopefully someone more familiar with LXDE than I will come by and be able to give you more specific advice. I found with Trisquel 8 on my ThinkPad X60 that some issues with the live image went away after installation. It might be worth installing first before you spend too much time banging your head.
Re: [Trisquel-users] "Corrupt or invalid kernel image"
Good tip! Guess I'll go for the USB thing :)
Re: [Trisquel-users] Thoughts on- and questions regarding Trisquel Mini on MacBookPro9, 1
It costs 25 usd for you? That's wierd... Anyway, thanks for taking time :) Which one of the four System Tools are you referring to? :)
Re: [Trisquel-users] After installing Trisquel 7 dual boot with Ubuntu , Grub is asking for password to boot Ubuntu
It's certainly good to test things out and know what your new workflow is going to look like. Good planning!
Re: [Trisquel-users] Minifree's Libreboot X200 laptop comes with Trisquel pre-installed. Now with other keyboard layouts available, and free stickers
It's too bad that the keyboards are not like the keyboards on the MacBooks. You could just 3D print a new set of keys.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Thoughts on- and questions regarding Trisquel Mini on MacBookPro9, 1
There's a $25 one, https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/penguin-wireless-n-usb-adapter-gnu-linux-tpe-n150usb but no, your WiFi card will not work without proprietary firmware. I'm not too familiar with LXDE (the desktop environment for Trisquel Mini) but you might be able to find what you're looking for under "System Tools."
Re: [Trisquel-users] "Corrupt or invalid kernel image"
Well, I'm glad to hear that Mini is working! I have no idea what the cause of this could be. And yes, sadly, the macbooks are not equipped with wireless cards that we can drive freely. You're left with a few options: 1) Buy a (USB) Wireless card (I have this card, and no regrets about it ! -https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/penguin-wireless-n-usb-adapter-gnu-linux-tpe-n150usb) 2) Use a wired connection 3) Use a proprietary driver, by downloading the driver directly or adding a different nonfree repo to your etc/apt/sources.list file 4) Use a different distribution. I have tried all of these different solutions, and I have found that number 1 is the best. But, I understand that money doesn't grow on trees and not everyone can afford to buy RYF computers/equipment all the time. Do what you feel is right, and don't let perfect be the enemy of good!
Re: [Trisquel-users] Thoughts on- and questions regarding Trisquel Mini on MacBookPro9, 1
Also: Where can I find settings for display? Like resolution, dimming lights etc. I am new to all of this :)
Re: [Trisquel-users] Minifree's Libreboot X200 laptop comes with Trisquel pre-installed. Now with other keyboard layouts available, and free stickers
That's old. In 2015, he said that we need to make free hardware designs in case free software won't run on conventional hardware anymore. Although we need not reject digital hardware made from nonfree designs in today's circumstances, we need to develop free designs and should use them when feasible. They provide advantages today, and in the future they may be the only way to use free software. https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-hardware-designs.html
[Trisquel-users] Thoughts on- and questions regarding Trisquel Mini on MacBookPro9, 1
So I am currently running Trisquel Mini live from the DVD and it is seemingly working allright. There are a couple of things that immediately ain't working though. 1. Wi-fi. Are there any solutions to this other than buying the 44 usd wi-fi usb thing from think penguin? 2. The whole "upper section" of the keyboard (the strip of keys with light dimming etc, the "fn-buttons" is not working for me.
Re: [Trisquel-users] "Corrupt or invalid kernel image"
Hi, I am currently running Trisquel Mini in the "try" mode live on a DVD and it works seemingly very good (apart from wi/fi which I have heard many people on newer MacBooks struggle with. You don't happen to have a solution for that, without buying the 44 usd think penguin usb wi-fi thing, do you ?:p ) Anyway, when I tried with the regular Trisquel I did checksum the iso file, and it was okay.
Re: [Trisquel-users] "Corrupt or invalid kernel image"
I'm no hacker, but I do have a 2012 non-retina MBP that I've done at least a dozen different GNU/Linux installs on. I've never had any issues like this, so my first thought might be that you have an error with your disk image (are you booting from USB?). Which Trisquel are you installing? Have you tried a different version (7, 7 Mini, 8 alpha), or reburning?
Re: [Trisquel-users] Maybe its time to rethink Mozilla products
Installing the addon automatically was indeed a mistake. I believe that it was an honest mistake on Mozilla's part, as I'm sure they value their privacy-respecting image over a game, but it certainly erodes trust. The addon in and of itself doesn't seem malicious, and because it is libre software any undesirable features could be removed. Since the addon was disabled by default, it did not affect anyone who did not want to use it. If the addon were proprietary it would be a more serious issue, as Mozilla should not push proprietary software. However, Mozilla already had a policy of recommending non-free addons. Fortunately, Firefox is free software so others have been able to fix this and other problems in Abrowser, Icecat, Tor Browser, etc. There were already reasons to use these forks instead of Firefox, and Mozilla has not impaired our ability to do that, so little has changed as far as I'm concerned. Mozilla did make a mistake, and I hope they learn from it, but even if they aren't as serious about privacy as they claim they don't even begin to compare to Google. Google doesn't even pay lip service to privacy. They try to train us not to value our privacy so that we will give it to them gratis and they can sell it. So far they are winning. When Firefox 57 came out, I saw people switch from Chrome for the better performance. (Not that anyone should use Chrome regardless of performance, but whatever.) When people I know installed Firefox and were prompted to configure their privacy settings, it got them thinking about their privacy. Knowing that I'm already healthily paranoid, they began asking me questions about internet privacy. If Mozilla is teaching people to care about their privacy again, they are a valuable ally regardless of how well they deliver.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Quantum kicks ass
I have also installed FF Quantum recently and it is really great in terms of speed and new features but I came across some really sad news about Mozilla. They are implementing DRM on videos played with their browser, also they are spying on the users, removing people from the rise up mail server if they don't agree with Mozilla's political views. http://lunduke.com/2017/12/17/mozilla-is-not-trustworthy/ https://www.cnet.com/news/mozilla-holds-its-nose-and-supports-drm-video-in-firefox/
Re: [Trisquel-users] Maybe its time to rethink Mozilla products
Chromium (not Chrome which is clearly not free) has a multi-license set-up, which adds a lot of complexity to assessing issues as it relates to copy-left. The most obvious issue is that some mainline components use the MS-PL license in part, which is not GPL compliant. That is the most obvious, but I am sure there is more because the browser is a collection of several projects, with each contributing licenses to the end product. The project also changes components over time, so its level of copy-left compliance can shift from version to version. Another issue is that the Google portion of the code uses the "BSD License" which is actually several licenses of which only some are GPL compliant. One would have to read the actual license to assess which version it is as I have only seen it referred to in this super unhelpful shorthand in any kind of summary. Firefox in contrast uses a single, GPL compliant license (the MPL v. 2.0+) for all compontents making the only issues related to freedom being branding and access to third party add-ons which may carry different licenses.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Maybe its time to rethink Mozilla products
> How is their income relevant? They are a "non-profit" that accepts money for the corporation. A "non-profit" that will force your search engine to change depending on their business deal. > What references are there for these claims? If you read the link or watched the YouTube video, Mozilla has the power to remotely force extensions and that resulted in the Mr. Robot controversy. > Again, what references back up an alleged forced DRM? And if you're talking about a Mozilla-hosted discussion forum censoring people, how is that an issue which would give one cause to stop using their free software? Mozilla implemented the encrypted media extensions before it was a W3C standard. They also fired an employee for not agreeing with them 100% and they also own the RiseUp email site. RiseUp is very inclusive and will kick you out if you do not follow their strict ideology. > Such as? The Chromium browser has been excluded from Trisquel for years due to inconsistent licensing and Ruben made a decision to exclude it instead of doing further research or blacklisting the libraries.
[Trisquel-users] "Corrupt or invalid kernel image"
Tried to install Trisquel on my MacBookPro9,1 (2012 non-retina) and I it got me to the point where I could choose to try or install the OS and a few other options, but when I clicked on the "try" it said "Corrupt or invalid kernel image". Anybody got any thoughts? :) Thanks
Re: [Trisquel-users] Problem with a laptop
Thanks for your answare
Re: [Trisquel-users] Minifree's Libreboot X200 laptop comes with Trisquel pre-installed. Now with other keyboard layouts available, and free stickers
Richard Stallman -- On "Free Hardware" Jun 22, 1999, 04:27 By Richard Stallman GNU A number of people have asked the GNU Project if we would like to branch out from free software into free hardware designs, and expressed their interest in working on them. Some people have even suggested a project to make free chip designs. To understand this issue clearly, recall that ``free software'' is a matter of freedom, not price; broadly speaking, it means that users are free to copy and modify the software. So if we try to apply the same concept to hardware, ``free hardware'' means hardware that users are free to copy and modify; a ``free hardware design'' means a design that users are free to copy, modify, and convert into hardware. Free software is often available for zero price, since it often costs you nothing to make your own copy. Thus the tendency to confuse ``free'' with ``gratis''. For hardware, the difference between ``free'' and ``gratis'' is more clear-cut; you can't download hardware through the net, and we don't have automatic copiers for hardware. (Maybe nanotechnology will provide that capability.) So you must expect that making fresh a copy of some hardware will cost you, even if the hardware or design is free. The parts will cost money, and only a very good friend is likely to make circuit boards or solder wires and chips for you as a favor. Because copying hardware is so hard, the question of whether we're allowed to do it is not vitally important. I see no social imperative for free hardware designs like the imperative for free software. Freedom to copy software is an important right because it is easy now--any computer user can do it. Freedom to copy hardware is not as important, because copying hardware is hard to do. Present-day chip and board fabrication technology resembles the printing press. Copying hardware is as difficult as copying books was in the age of the printing press, or more so. So the ethical issue of copying hardware is more like the ethical issue of copying books 50 years ago, than like the issue of copying software today. However, a number of hardware ethusiasts are interested in developing free hardware designs, either because they have fun designing hardware, or because they want to customize. If you want to work on this, it is a fine thing to do. The GNU volunteer coordinators (g...@gnu.org) can put you in touch with other people who share this interest. If organizations are formed for this purpose, the GNU Project will refer interested people to them. People often ask about the possibility of using the GNU GPL or some other kind of copyleft for hardware designs. Firmware such as programs for programmable logic devices or microcoded machines are software, and can be copylefted like any other software. For actual circuits, though, the matter is more complex. Circuits cannot be copylefted because they cannot be copyrighted. Definitions of circuits written in HDL (hardware definition languages) can be copylefted, but the copyleft covers only the expression of the definition, not the circuit itself. Likewise, a drawing or layout of a circuit can be copylefted, but this only covers the drawing or layout, not the circuit itself. What this means is that anyone can legally draw the same circuit topology in a different-looking way, or write a different HDL definition which produces the same circuit. Thus, the strength of copyleft when applied to circuits is limited. However, copylefting HDL definitions and printed circuit layouts may do some good nonetheless. It is probably not possible to use patents for this purpose either. Patents do not work like copyrights, and they are very expensive to obtain. Whether or not a hardware device's internal design is free, it is absolutely vital for its interface specifications to be free. We can't write free software to run the hardware without knowing how to operate it. (Selling a piece of hardware, and refusing to tell the customer how to use it, strikes me as unconscionable.) But that is another issue. Copyright 1999 Richard Stallman Verbatim copying and redistribution of this entire article is permitted provided this notice is preserved. Richard Stallman is the founder of the Free Software Foundation, the author of the GNU General Public License (GPL), and the original developer of such notable software as gcc and Emacs.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Problem with a laptop
tbh it'll probably be cheaper to buy a new power cable than a multimeter, unless you're planning to use a multimeter for future projects and you're happy to buy a power cable anyway if it gives you a negative result! :D The most common cause of power problems in ye olde laptops (in my experience) is the battery. They're usually the first thing to go in an old laptop. A good indication is if it doesn't hold a charge when you remove the power cable or it drains really fast. Do not buy a "reconditioned" replacement for it as that will probably be around the same age as the one you have now and will have a limited shelf life. Look for an after-market "replacement" battery on the usual online shopping sites. Just be cautious about the usual things (i.e. sellers with low feedback, unfamiliar brands, etc).
Re: [Trisquel-users] Maybe its time to rethink Mozilla products
It will be interesting to see what comes from Mozilla's apology. https://blog.mozilla.org/firefox/update-looking-glass-add/ Personally I've switched machines that were using Firefox over to GNU IceCat. Still using Abrowser on my Trisquel box though. (I don't really understand the logic behind people fleeing to Chrome. That feels a bit like leaping out of the frying pan and into the fire because you can smell smoke! :D)
[Trisquel-users] Re : How Do I Revert Back To The Default Trisquel 7 Kernel?
If it is not already installed, you first need to install, with the package
manager, "linux-image-lowlatency" (Trisquel 7's default kernel, currently at
version 3.13.0.137) or any other kernel you would prefer (maybe
"linux-image-generic"). Then, you need to reboot on that kernel, choosing it
in GRUB's "Advanced options". To enter those options, GRUB will ask for a
user name ("grub" is the answer) and a password, which written at the very
end of /etc/grub.d/01_PASSWORD. I advise you to get rid of that useless
password by following the steps I gave yesterday:
https://trisquel.info/forum/after-installing-trisquel-7-dual-boot-ubuntu-grub-asking-password-boot-ubuntu#comment-124672
Once you run your kernel of choice ('uname -r', executed in a terminal, can
confirm you the version you run), remove all the newer kernels using, again,
the package manager. I like the "Synaptic Package Manager", a graphical
interface to APT. You can "Search" all packages that start with "linux-" and
remove those (the images, the headers, etc.) having greater version numbers.
A version number (a sequence of dot-separated numbers in the package name) is
"greater" if, considering the numbers as if they were the letters of a word,
it would be after in the dictionary order (i.e., the leftmost numbers are the
most significant to order the versions).
Re: [Trisquel-users] How Do I Revert Back To The Default Trisquel 7 Kernel?
Hmm.. I don't see why it wouldn't be possible, but that seems like a bad idea unless your trying to use something like virtualbox 4.1 where it requires an old kernel to use. :)
Re: [Trisquel-users] Quantum kicks ass
Waterfox, Abrowser or Iceweasel if your using hyperbola/parabola.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Maybe its time to rethink Mozilla products
Mozilla is bad, but they are still better than any other option with the exception of forking firefox of course. :) and also removing the bloat from firefox to make icecat, abrowser or even iceweasel (not debian's iceweasel though...) I speak more of parabola/hyperbola's iceweasel and of course waterfox is the next best thing to those... at the moment though it still has a few issues of course. :0
Re: [Trisquel-users] I met RMS yesterday. We talked about Trisquel 8, this is what he said...
"small sign" "2,4 billion people" Sorry for the mistakes. I could not edit now.
Re: [Trisquel-users] I met RMS yesterday. We talked about Trisquel 8, this is what he said...
< I also though know that it would be complicated to implement what your asking. Not complicated at all, and in fact it is something necessary. Freedom of expression is something essential but as a lawyer I also know that any freedom has the limit of respecting the rights of others. Only in this case can a tolerant and free society exist. "My freedom ends where the freedom of others ends". If this cannot be enforced freedom that not exist. In this case the collision is against Freedom of religion. < I would also add though Christianity has been misused ALOT... I understand why they are skeptical, given the nature of people like hitler and the crusades, etc, It happens that in an institution like the Church having more than 2000 years there have been very big errors made by people who clearly has abused . I would also like to point out that Hitler was not Christian, he was a pagan whose main aim was to destroy Christianity as it was completely opposed of Nazi's ideas. This all is well documented in the pagan rituals of the SS. If Hitler some time procured to get well with Christianity was just for the purpose of regaining the power and not finding another adversary in the opposition of billion people around the world if he declared his ideas openly. That is the reason why having the control of Rome and willing to kidnap the Pope he never dared to do so and he always respected that one of the limits of his power was to respect the limits of Vatican City. With regards to the errors that the Church as an institution may have done through History, as being composed of men with passions and errors and others that have clearly abused of Christianity for the sake of power, I need to point out that all the recent Pope's have ask forgiveness for all the errors that the Church and Christianity overall may have done in the past. On the other side Christianity has built Western civilization: creating the first universities, providing the first charitable organisations, the first hospitals, the first social assistance, supporting the education of poor people, etc... Although achieved through revolutionary means many of them, all the freedoms that we all enjoy in the Western world are just a consequence of the secularisation of the Christian way of thinking. They could have never happen per se, as it has never been the case, in the context of any other culture. I understand that people just got a first impression about something regarding the bad things, but those things really does not represent what Christianity is about. If they really want to learn to appreciate Christianity they should have an eye towards the life of the saints or to the great achievements that Christianity has achieved in History on behalf of Humanity. < Stallman is an atheist also by the way... As the Holy Father recently said, God is ok with people being atheist if they really think in their hearts that is the Truth and they try to live life being better persons in accordance with what they hearlty think it is the Truth. < Sometimes people need to see a light for a long period of time to change. I have no problem with that but in the meantime they do not need to be purposely offensive towards the religion of others. Making fun about Christianity may be easy as long as Christianity is a religion of tolerance which does preach having love for opponent to it, but I am just curious if they would dare to do also with regards to other religions? I don't think so. On the other side I do not expect anyone "to change" as you said after a period of time. For me it is enough everyone believes in what he/she truly thinks it is the Truth in this life (including atheism), respecting all others and trying to be good persons. < We need to not be easily offended, revenge is the Lord's as God has said. I do not have revenge against anyone I just ask for respect towards religious feelings of people ... Not just for my religion, but for all.
Re: [Trisquel-users] I met RMS yesterday. We talked about Trisquel 8, this is what he said...
I am somewhat hopeful that they decide to bite the bullet and jump T8 straight to LTS 18.04 base.
