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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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101

Why hasn't anyone built an entirely free computer yet? (lemmy.world)

submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by Zeon@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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Hello everyone,

I've been wondering, why has no one built an entirely free (as in freedom) computer yet? For humans to be unable to share each other's knowledge to build one of the most important technologies ever created for society, how is it that we have yet to have full knowledge about how our systems operate?

I get that companies are basically the ones to blame, and I know there are alternatives like the Talos II by Raptor Computing, but still, how do we not have publicly available full schematics for just one modern computer? I'm talking down to firmware-level stuff like proprietary ECs, microcode, hard drive/SSD firmware, network controllers, etc. How do we not have a fully open system yet?

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[–] pearsaltchocolatebar@discuss.online 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You're vastly underestimating the gulf of complexity between metal fabrication and processor manufacturing.

If this was even remotely feasible, don't you think China would have done it for the several year long microchip shortage?

[–] SheeEttin@programming.dev 2 points 9 months ago

Yes, I understand there are orders of magnitude of complexity between the two. And no, it's not remotely feasible, like I said, they wouldn't be any good. If anything, I'm agreeing with you that no system of government, or system of economics for that matter, would make it practical.