Debian, the popular free and generally open source Linux OS distribution, has announced the inclusion of completely free and non-open source software in its default installation image. This software, which helps the OS fix problems like Wi-Fi not working, will be included in the upcoming Debian 12, codenamed “Bookworm”.
The OS on which the Raspberry Pi OS is based (opens in new tab) Like many other remixes and spins, “social contract (opens in new tab)Tie it to free software and components. This Agreement is amended as follows: vote (opens in new tab) By the Debian community. Other his Debian images containing non-free software are already available, so the change only affects the default, currently completely free installation image.
The included proprietary software is in the form of a Binary Large Object (BLOB). In free software terms, this means a proprietary device driver distributed as a pure binary without source code.
Luckily for those who are ethically prevented from running anything other than open source drivers and applications, a Debian remix like this is available: Pure OS (opens in new tab) continue to exist. It is also possible to avoid proprietary drivers during installation, as the Debian project’s statement clarifies. Media (installer and live images). The included firmware binaries will normally be enabled by default if the system deems it necessary, but if possible include a way for the user to disable this at boot time (boot menu option, kernel command line, etc.). ”
Like Fedora and Mint, Debian isn’t the first Linux distribution to abandon a totally free spirit and dive into proprietary software. (opens in new tab), among other things, has been doing it for years. Many of the different Wi-Fi solutions included in PCs do not have open source drivers, so having the latest hardware out of the box is practical.Ann alpha version (opens in new tab) Bookworm, including Gnome 43 (opens in new tab)You can test from Debian website (opens in new tab).
