If you keep up with Linux kernel news then you might well be aware that there is a particular issue that is starting to boil up to the surface. Free Software Foundation (FSF) is changing their stance on what comprises a “free” Linux distribution.

This came about because of the GNewSense distribution which arrived on the scene in 2006. GNewSense’ goal was to create a distribution that contained only free software. This would include the kernel. This distribution would garner the FSF’s exalted title of Free Operating System.

But then GNewSense did the unthinkable - it found proprietary “blobs” in the kernel. Blobs are basically firmware that many drivers require in order to function. The major player here would be wireless networking devices. But because these “blobs” are not free any kernel that contains drivers that would make use of said “blobs” would not be considered free. And there are a lot of offenders out there. And in order to maintain the “Free” status awarded by the FSF, any distribution claiming to be “free” would have to remove those blobs from their code.

This is an on-going debate in the land of Linux. But this issue makes it all the more compelling.

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