Compiling on the PocketCHIP using the config file for the existing kernel
/boot/config-4.4.13-ntc-mlc
creates deb files of form
linux-*-4.2.0-rc1-gnu_4.2.0-rc1-gnu-*_armel.deb
When I try to install 'linux-image-4.2.0-rc1-gnu_4.2.0-rc1-gnu-1_armel.deb' I
get
package architecture (armel)
Tell us how it goes!
I finally got the script to run all the way through without running out of
memory by splitting up the tar archive and using the awk script instead of
the python one. The awk script flagged the same sun*i files but actually did
not have a problem with crypto/crc32c-pcl-intel-asm_64.S, further
There doesn't seem to be a lot on the other two programs, but it seems like
all should be clear. Chip-mconfigs look like it should be removable; it's
only an openbox/tint2 theme manager tool, which I don't think matters for
XFCE. As for xserver-xorg-video-armsoc, no source or license is
This is promising! I'm pretty sure you're right that the dts files are false
positives, and the precomputed constants seem to have good reason to be there
too. Hopefully that means the kernel shouldn't be too much more work... which
would just leave the other two programs you listed
I might have figured it out. The reason deblob-check was only printing one
filename is that it exits once it finds a blob. By commenting out the exit
line I was able to get it to keep looking and list all files with blobs.
As expected, running deblob-check on the original kernel results in
Sorry for the late reply!
I'm not entirely sure as to how the scripts work, honestly. I've had a look
through them, and there's a long list of files in the deblob-4.2 file: that
would seem to suggest that the blob locations are hard-coded, but it's not
proof. I've asked at the GNU
The last version of deblob-* to contain
drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/pmu/fuc/gf110.fuc4 is deblob-4.2, so out
of curiosity I tried including that in the directory instead and running $
./deblob 4.2 Sure enough, the script was able find all files it was looking
for and complete
You're right. I should have been running deblob-main. After compressing the
kernel to "linux-4.4.tar.bz2", changing line 52 of deblob-4.4 to read
"kver=4.4 extra=13", and running $ ./deblob-main 4.4 13 I get Uncompressing
linux-4.4.tar.bz2 into linux-4.4.tar
Extracting linux-4.4.tar into
>It would be great if the indent width of comment replies were halved so that
it would take twice as long for this to happen
Seconded.
>I'm not sure exactly what the output should look like since I can't find
sample usage anywhere, but I would have expected to get a list of source code
I'm responding to comment #46 down here because things were starting to get a
little too scrunched to read. (It would be great if the indent width of
comment replies were halved so that it would take twice as long for this to
happen.)
After making deblob-check executable, running
Try running:
chmod +x deblob-*
before executing it; that makes the scripts executable and hence usable.
Admittedly, I'm not really too certain how the script works. I'll get a copy
and see what can be done as soon as possible, but my insights probably won't
be anything you haven't already
I'm trying to figure out how to run 'deblob-check'. In 'deblob-check' it says
# usage: deblob-check [-S] [-v] [-v] [-s S] [--reverse-patch] \
#[--use-...|--gen-flex] [-lDdBbCcXxPpFftVh?H] \
#*.tar* patch-* [-i prefix/] *.patch *.diff...
I've downloaded the NTC kernel via git
OK- so it's not violating the GPL because Linux only treats it as a data
file, and the execution happens independently of the kernel? That's rather
inconvenient: as you say, being legal makes them no less evil.
>If I understand correctly, the Debian kernel can't replace the NTC kernel
because it does not have NAND support, but the NTC kernel's NAND support is
not proprietary; it's other drivers/firmware that make the NTC kernel
non-free.
That's how I understood it. I haven't been able to find any
Thanks for looking into this. If I understand correctly, the Debian kernel
can't replace the NTC kernel because it does not have NAND support, but the
NTC kernel's NAND support is not proprietary; it's other drivers/firmware
that make the NTC kernel non-free. In that case, would it be
OK- I've looked into this a little further. Debian's default kernel would
definitely not work, because it's missing support for the NAND memory which
is integrated into the chip. This can be dealt with in two ways:
*Re-compile the kernel with NAND support: it's possible- the Chip uses free
I don't think it would- although a libre equivalent must exist somewhere,
since the EOMA68-A20 card has the option of Debian. I'll have a look for it
and see if it isn't possible to just use that.
As for nonfree kernel modules, I don't know about those either. Perhaps it's
just the people
Would replacing the kernel with Debian's break anything? I don't understand
kernels well. I've also always been confused as to how non-free modifications
of the linux kernel can exist without being in violation of GPLv2.
Nice! Thanks for the links- that's a far better way to do it.
Unfortunately, it seems like the kernel may be some trouble. Looking at the
repository here, it turns out the base is not Debian's Kernel but rather the
SoC-friendly linux-sunxi; which, quite incredibly, includes the firmware and
I should maybe mention that I'm no longer using the default CHIP OS but have
flashed Debian Jessie with xfce via
https://docs.getchip.com/chip.html#setup-ubuntu-for-flashing
https://docs.getchip.com/chip.html#flash-chip-firmware
Luckily the Ubuntu method works for Belenos so I did not need
I'm almost done going through the non-debian-main packages that are installed
by default. As expected,
chip-mali-modules-4.4.13-ntc-mlc
chip-mali-userspace
rtl8723bs-bt
rtl8723bs-bt-mp-driver-common
rtl8723bs-bt-mp-driver-modules-4.4.13-ntc-mlc
rtl8723bs-mp-driver-modules-4.4.13-ntc-mlc
are
OK, if you're looking at this, please don't worry about what I just posted-
if the bootloader isn't proprietary, it should be possible to just uninstall
the problem firmware and have a free device. I'll look into this as soon as I
can, and (hopefully) that should lead to a much shorter
OK, the person who got Debian Stretch running on the Chip (Pablo Rath) has
very kindly written me a list of the step involved in doing so. I've copied
it below (it's on the arm-netbook mailing list as well), but has the caveat
that boot needs to be from USB, not NAND, so if there's only one
A USB modem would be neat. You'd still give away some info about your
location whenever you use it, but you'd have much more control over what and
how much information you give away. Since I can't call 911 with JMP I might
even like to carry one in case of emergency even if I never use it
With a USB cellular modem (I don't think I made it clear that it was USB-
sorry for the confusion), the use of USB offers excellent modem isolation and
verifiable powering down. Also, the ability to remove the adapter provides
further piece of mind- and, by putting it into another machine,
I'm not sure of any freedom problems, to be honest- the version the Chip uses
is forked from the main U-Boot repository, and doesn't include USB boot
functionality, but that's not a violation of freedom.
I'm curious as to why you'd want to use it with a cellular modem. What would
be the advantage over a smartphone running Replicant?
Actually, what's the problem with the bootloader? It appears to be GPLv2.
Thanks for the description- I think I too might purchase one once it's clear
how to liberate it (and I can find a touch GUI to call/SMS through a cellular
modem), so it'd be interesting to see what can be done.
The best "reference" I can find at the moment is at
UPDATE: My PocketCHIP arrived today. I like the device itself. It's a little
bulky but fits in my jeans pocket. The keyboard works pretty well. I'd hate
to write a long document with it, but terminal commands are pretty painless.
Fingers don't work very well with the touch screen, but a
Thank you!
On 16/08/17 21:15, gpast_pan...@protonmail.com wrote:
> Thank you for this! If I may ask though, where can you get a Zipit for £20?
np, glad to help. I said where in my prev posts but here is the info
with extra help:
Ask hinv on the #zipit IRC channel. On freenode.org server. You can use
>i would say your best bet is for now is a zipit for £20 and if you are
willing to do some soldering, a usb hub,usb power exteral power, usb wifi and
you have free software pda.
Thank you for this! If I may ask though, where can you get a Zipit for £20?
Thanks for digging the info up.
On 15/08/17 22:34, gpast_pan...@protonmail.com wrote:
> If somebody could manufacture the NanoNote (possibly with some slight
> spec improvements) again, I would be the first to buy it. *Sigh*
i would say your best bet is for now is a zipit for £20 and if you are
To elaborate, the particular post appears to be here:
http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/pipermail/arm-netbook/2017-July/014340.html. It
also suggests Debian Stretch runs fine on the PocketChip (although would need
to be flashed to RAM to become the default OS)- so it definitely runs fine
without
On 14/08/17 18:54, masonh...@gmail.com wrote:
>> pocket chip i think comes with yucky non-free bootloader
>
> Can it be replaced?
i think so, there is a free one. they didn’t use it :(. i forget the
details. there where posts about it on arm-netbook the rhombus-tech
eoma86 mailing list:
This is not correct, senor GNUbahn. A phone without a sim card can indeed
make emergency calls and in many countries this is law, but it certainly can
not be tracked by it's IMEI alone. To track a phoon a sim must be inserted
inside the phoon. In fact if no sim card is present in da phoon
I'm almost certain it would disable the GPU without causing other problems.
On the other hand, that's just a (somewhat informed) guess based on what I've
read about the Pandora; it's not yet confirmed.
Again, I haven't run Replicant myself so I am probably not the best person to
answer that. One such issue seems to be "Browsers using the webview framework
(such as the browser shipped with Replicant and Lightning) are subject to
various security flaws in Replicant 6.0. Replicant 4.2 did not
> pocket chip i think comes with yucky non-free bootloader
Can it be replaced?
I plan to use this primarily for JMP and email, so that shouldn't be a
problem. What would be the best way to disable the GPU? Deleting the
firmware? Would that cause other problems?
i have a ben nano note. love it to bits. for my needs i really needed
usb host though. i used my nano note for notes and music mainly. There
was a india shop still selling the last stock. Try asking on the
freenode.org #qi-hardware irc channel. the nano note devs hang out on
there. :)
my scripts i
Thanks. Are you using the default OS on your PocketChip? I don't mind
carrying a charger and I have a USB WiFi adapter, so that seems like a good
inexpensive option to use until the Pyra is released. Is WiFi the only
nonfree component?
I highly recommend the Pyra. If you can find a used OpenPandora that'll
probably serve (or a used N900 if you can disable the radio).
My pocketCHIP is great -- the specs are on the low side, and the screen
resolution is quite low -- I've already sent patches upstream for some apps I
use to
It sounds like until the Pyra is released my options are the PocketChip and
the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 WiFi-only version.
The PocketChip's CHIP OS is apparently based on Debian. If like Debian it is
"optionally free" but not FSF-free I am fine with that, but since freedom
appears not to be an
Unfortunately, I'm not sure this works- though my knowledge is limited, and I
could very well be wrong (I hope I am). The issue is that the modem is a
separate computer- it loads independently of the main device, and has its own
flash. As such, removing the ability to use telephony from the
kopolee11 is talking about a tabelt (7 inches), I am talking about a phone.
The tablet exists in a sim-card enabled version and a wifi-only version. In
the latter there is no modem.
In the phone (S3 G4) there is a modem, but perhaps, as telephony doesn't
work, this could mean that the
What exactly is the WiFi-only version and where can I find it? Does it
literally have no modem?
What about using a S3 4G? Since telephony doesn't work, would that mean that
the modem is inactive? In that If so, you could have a wifi-only phone with a
100% free software!
I haven't done this myself, but another option to consider is using a Galaxy
Tab 2 7.0 Wi-Fi only version with Replicant.
(https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/wiki/GalaxyTab270P31xx) It
would not have a telephony modem to worry about, but to use Wi-Fi you would
have to use a
But you use a wifi-dongle working with free firmware.
I thought I had found the Pandora for sale here, but not knowing German I did
not realize at first that it is out of stock. It appears they are only
selling the Pyra.
However, I feel better about the Pyra after reading the link you included.
I'll take a look at the PocketChip too.
It also appears that all devices supported by Replicant require nonfree
firmware to use WiFi, unless this list is out-of-date.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replicant_(operating_system)#Supported_devices
I didn't know this.
In my country this doesn't work :/
But it is interesting.
>The Ben Nanonote looks ideal, but I can't actually find a >source from which
to buy one. The wiki says that as of 2015 >only IDA Systems sells it, and it
appears that now they don't >sell it either.
Indeed- the domain has changed hands at some point, and the original owner
appears to have
It seems to me, that mason doesn't want to be tracked. To my knowledge, a SIM
enabled device is by default actively asking to be tracked. For instance, you
are able to call emergency services without a SIM card inserted.
You could also have a smartphone with Replicant and use it without a SIM card
After this recent thread I have decided to try to replace my smartphone with
a PDA running JMP and only free software. I'm now trying to find on a good
fully free device to use.
The Ben Nanonote looks ideal, but I can't actually find a source from which
to buy one. The wiki says that as of
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