Re: question about proprietory packages

["Ian Eure" <ian@retrospec.tv>]

Hi,

On Wed, Jan 8, 2025, at 10:26 PM, gfp wrote:
> Hi,
> thanks for explaining this.
>
> 1.
> I understood that
> EFI is on the top
> it runs Grub
> and Grub runs the init system shepherd.

EFI is the modern replacement for the legacy BIOS.  It's typically a proprietary firmware which is supplied by your hardware OEM.

Grub loads Linux, which executes Shepherd.

> 2.
> Guix has a Grub without proprietary software AFAIU
> and then remains the question about EFI.
>

Grub is a GPL-licensed GNU project, and fully Free Software.

> 3.
> Can we exclude that EFI is without proprietary software?
>

It depends on your hardware OEM and personal modifications.  It's possible to buy a computer with Coreboot (Free Software, but can load proprietary blobs) or Libreboot (Coreboot without the blobs); or to modify some models to run it.  

The majority of computers sold have proprietary firmware and cannot run Coreboot/Libreboot.  Unless you specifically sought out a manufacturer or reseller who offers this, your computer has proprietary firmware.

> Or has it only the task to run Grub?, because then it runs without 
> proprietary software?
>

It has numerous other features, like setting the date/time, boot order, possibly built-in hardware diagnostics, etc.

> 4.
> Or are there other booting proprietary firmware blobs somewhere?
> Or also Microcode updates?
>

It depends on your hardware configuration.  If you add or connect other hardware, that can also contain proprietary firmware.

> 5.
> Do those things depend on the laptop or PC you have got?
>

Yes, see above.  Most laptops also have an embedded controller (EC) which runs proprietary firmware.  These handle things like power/charging, keyboard controller, responding to the power button, etc.  I don't know of any Free replacement for this on any model of laptop.

> I know Intel and ARM.
> Risc-5 AFAIK has no proprietary software, is that right?
> Or depends that on the company which produces Risc-5?
>

I believe RISC-V is completely free, but I'm not certain.

All modern x86 hardware requires proprietary microcode, and cannot run without it.  It's embedded in the CPU, and can't be replaced, only updated.  You can choose not to update it, but it exists whether you do or not.  It's therefore impossible for x86 machines to run on 100% Free Software.

  -- Ian