Canoeboot 25.04 "Corny Calamity" released! (free/libre BIOS/UEFI firmware replacement based on coreboot)
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Hi everyone,
My name is Leah Rowe. I am the founder and lead developer of the Canoeboot project, which is my special Libreboot fork that provides free and libre boot firmware, based on coreboot. It is a *distro* of coreboot, in much the same way that, say, Trisquel or Parabola are GNU/Linux-libre distributions. Its purpose is to make free BIOS/UEFI boot firmware accessible for non-technical users.
It provides several coreboot "payloads" by default, such as the GNU boot loader named GRUB, or SeaBIOS. It also provides U-Boot, which implements a lightweight and sensible UEFI layer. These payloads can be selected at boot time, with different images that boot one of them as primary.
I maintain this project because I'm a passionate free software developer, and I want people to use it. I've been maintaining Canoeboot now for the past two years, as a fork of my other project named Libreboot, which is superficially similar.
The new release announcement is here:
https://canoeboot.org/news/canoeboot2504.html
Highlights:
* Acer Q45T-AM added
* All major upstream sources updated (e.g. coreboot, GRUB) as of 20 April 2025
* Many security fixes and bugfixes in GRUB
* Build fixes; the release was successfully compiled on bleeding edge distros, with the new GCC 15
* Build system improvements, especially error handling
* More reliable vendor file insertion
Incremental changes including more boards planned, for the next June 2025 release.
More information is available in the ChangeLog linked above.
One of the special improvements is that several bleeding edge distros were tested, namely: Fedora 42, and Debian Sid (*with experimental* dependencies including GCC 15). Libre bleeding edge distros like Parabola are also expected to work perfectly, in compiling Canoeboot from source.
One of the problems with the previous December release was precisely that the new GCC 15 and other toolchains are much stricter about certain coding styles and especially about warnings (more are treated as errors). I and several others have aggressively tested for and ironed out these bugs. This also applies for example to the ASUS KGPE-D16 port, where I made several changes, even crazy ones such as updating to the latest nasm (for parts of coreboot that are in x86 assembly language), because the old one used on that board would not properly compile in GCC 15.
Everything works perfectly. Enjoy!
If you have any questions about the release, I'm on the #canoeboot channel on Libera IRC, or name at domain on Mastodon.
Happy hacking!
oh, btw those "highlights" are wrong. i accidentally copy pasted that from libreboot and didn't check. though, the only thing that makes it wrong is the "more reliable vendor file insertion" part.
since canoeboot is a 100% free software coreboot distribution, it does not handle such files at all. which i suppose is the most reliable of all, because you can't have bugs in a feature you don't have!
I am a translator!
Ah, by "vendor file" you mean, something non-free?
To me, not saying non-free explicitly is most certainly deceiving a number of users, in particular as the title of the Libreboot home page says "Free and Open Source BIOS/UEFI boot firmware" and nothing in that page hints that there is any non-free part if one would install the software that is being advertised.
i mean, there's a whole article about it. three, in fact:
https://libreboot.org/news/policy.html
https://libreboot.org/freedom-status.html
https://libreboot.org/docs/install/ivy_has_common.html
all of them, especially the third one linked above, are linked aggressively in several key locations on libreboot.org, intentionally placed so that users are likely to read it.
if the situation is unclear, then their reading comprehension is probably insufficient in general so i wouldn't worry.
and if that doesn't satisfy you, then there is canoeboot, which only contains libre files.
I am a translator!
From https://libreboot.org/news/policy.html:
- quote start -
What is a binary blob?
A binary blob, in this context, is any executable for which no source code exists, that you cannot study and modify in a reasonable manner. By definition, all such blobs are proprietary in nature, and should be avoided if possible.
For information about Intel Management Engine and AMD PSP, refer to the FAQ.
Blob reduction policy
Default configurations
Coreboot, upon which Libreboot is based, is mostly libre software but does require certain vendor code on some platforms. A most common example might be raminit (memory controller initialisation) or video framebuffer initialisation. The coreboot firmware uses certain vendor code for some of these tasks, on some motherboards, but some motherboards from coreboot can be initialised with 100% libre source code, which you can inspect, and compile for your use.
- quote end -
So there is an explanation of what a binary blob is, then it is mentioned that coreboot requires vendor code, but it is not said that this vendor code is a binary blob. Combined only with what the home page says, I would tend to deduce that this is not the case.
> if the situation is unclear, then their reading comprehension is probably insufficient in general so i wouldn't worry.
If anyone proposes to install some software for me, I will check the home page for that software and if it says that it is free software, I may gladly accept without reading other technical details such as installation, which I don't need to use the software.
> if that doesn't satisfy you, then there is canoeboot, which only contains libre files
Right, since I followed the news closely and I am aware of the context, I installed canoeboot on a Dell E6400, but I find ironic that the version that only contains libre files is called canoeboot while the version that does not is called libreboot.
I do think you're being slightly condescending to be honest; your statements imply that my readers are basically stupid, or otherwise a little bit thick. Again, I think you should show a bit more respect.
The term "vendor code" is widely understood to mean "not free software". For example, Nvidia drivers are "vendor drivers", whereas nouveau is a free driver.
I really don't understand what you're telling me. Are you saying that readers can't tell what I'm writing about?
Immediately after the text you've quoted, that you've allleged is unclear, it says:
"The libreboot project has the following policy:
* If free software can be used, it should be used."
Then the next bullet point begins with "Some nuance is to be observed", followed by the example of VGA option ROMs for a few graphics cards (add-on ones).
The next bullet point talks about microcode as an exception to "if free software can be used".
That entire section, from which you quote, very clearly communicates that Libreboot provides binaries in limited circumstances, and the article more generally describes how the project tries to minimise this, so as to still provide as much free software as possible. An example of that in the past has been Haswell raminit for example; nowadays Libreboot provides free software for that, but previously provided a binary from Intel.
Moreover, what you're saying wouldn't even work. If I were to adopt a more linguistically strict criticism of proprietary software, then it must follow that Libreboot is attacking itself and must change, right? That it must remove all of them. and then it would become Canoeboot. I want all software to be free, but it isn't, and the only way to satisfy you would be to simply delete the Libreboot project and only do what is currently Canoeboot. This would result in fewer mainboards being easily accessible for coreboot novices, and those novices would therefore use *more* proprietary software, by not using coreboot at all.
And Canoeboot exists. So what's your problem? If you don't want Libreboot, that's fine. I maintain Canoeboot specifically for persons such as yourself, who only want the free software.
I am a translator!
Thanks for your replies.
> If I were to adopt a more linguistically strict criticism of proprietary software, then it must follow that Libreboot is attacking itself and must change, right?
To support your policy, you have argued previously that, by having more users use some computer that only boots with some non-free blob, and by having strong education against proprietary software, there will be more chances that someone eventually develops a free replacement of the blob.
While it looks a bit like wishful thinking to me, a strict criticism of proprietary software would just be part of that strong education, so completely consistent with those views.
> the only way to satisfy you would be to simply delete the Libreboot project and only do what is currently Canoeboot
Acually no, I just wish it would point more clearly to the limitations, i.e. the non-free blobs for many computers, from the home page. For sure, I am upset that something with blobs is called "Libreboot", but I understand you own the name and decide.
> I maintain Canoeboot specifically for persons such as yourself, who only want the free software.
I would like to thank you for that.
Seems the peanut gallery is thumbing down your posts anonymously... again
just distasteful... but anywho...
In any case, I look forward to your June update when you get x1 carbon gen 6 added to libreboot, including if its testing grade good.
I don't know if you still offer ath9k wifi cards if desired, but I hope you do.
Whenever you get x1 carbon gen 6 added and/or sold, I have interest to get one. :)
>"I look forward to your June update when you get x1 carbon gen 6 added to libreboot"
That would be a nice one! Up to 16GB of ram, am I correct?
Yes, let us know Leah!
(Zoma and Leah Rowe don't read this reply, I have no desire to torture or forcefully convince people who don't want to be convinced, and you don't want to be convinced so you two don't read this, this reply is rather meant for other people to see the hypocrisy of your pretense to be "rebellious" and "misunderstood" by us "dogmatists" despite the fact that you "pragmatics" are a social majority trying to force your views on us minority "dogmatists")
> Seems the peanut gallery is thumbing down your posts anonymously... again
>
> just distasteful... [...]
"thumbing down your posts anonymously" As if it's a bad thing to just anonymously downvote anti-FSDG posts from people who are not interested in actual debate, people who want to force their majority-held "pragmatic" views about software freedom (or rather lack of of such freedom) upon the small outcast "dogmatic" projects like ours and then cry "persecution, you FSF cultists are being intolerant, well I'm know I'm the unappreciated martyrdom Einstein because people here downvote me so much so you are blind to the truth!"
And when someone tries to debate these people: "wow, such arrogance, how dare my majority, widely-held-in-society views about how pragmatism is more important to the detriment of ideology and how massive projects like Debiain't and unFreedora are in the right to promote proprietary software be challenged by a tiny community of dogmatic cultist FSDG-fans? Surely they are the intolerant ones for rejecting my mainstream views and me trying to impose my views on their projects"
So dodging debate by downvoting is bad, but debating by harshly criticizing your stances through rich walls of text explaining why your stances are wrong is somehow also bad too, the only acceptable outcome would be for us to surrender entirely to your wishes, you don't want debate, you just want to win. There's nothing inherently wrong with being a brick wall, but when you act like you are "rebellious" for forcing your "pragmatic" brick-wall beliefs upon our "dogmatic" brick-wall ones and that we are the ones being intolerant and that you people are the ones being right, then you are just doing manipulation and coercion against smaller communities.
Canoeboot is not a FSDG-compliant project and it doesn't even hide its non-FSDG-compliance well, openly endorsing FSDG-violation in e.g. https://canoeboot.org/other.html where the only boot-firmware project suggested which is marked as FSDG-compliant in that page is GNU Boot meanwhile that page suggests MANY other, non-FSDG-compliant, boot firmwares (including "Libre"boot)
And here is a fitting example of a quote that represents the arrogance I've shown from "pragmatists", https://libreboot.org/news/policy.html says:
> I hope that these examples might inspire some people to take more action in demanding free software everywhere, and to enlighten more people on the road to software freedom. The road Libreboot takes is the one less traveled, the one of pragmatism without compromise; we will not lose sight of our original goals, namely absolute computer user freedom.
"The road less travelled", you say? Then why are all popular GNU/Linux distros "pragmatic", why is "free" Debiain't non-free and so popular and famous, why do people love focusing on the "pragmatic" nature of "Linux" to the detriment of GNU/Linux and so many (including "hero" cult-of-personality leader Linus Torvalds himself, selfishness and lack of morality being viewed as a virtue: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18419231) even react extremely hostile to the thought of free software as an ethical (idealist) rather than mere "pragmatic" position, why did that other page list so many "pragmatic" boot firmwares but just a single "dogmatic" (FSDG-compliant) one? This is a rhetorical question by the way, I don't want your answer, you people aren't interested in debate and even if you were I do not hold dear your undemocratic "right" to interfere in small "dogmatic" communities by constantly trying to lead a change of policy within just so that our "dogmatic" free software merges into the cruel external outside world by embracing proprietary dependencies, my main goal with this post is not to convince you but rather let the "dogmatists" (and questioning peoples) here see your hypocrisy.
Do you appreciate who this is for? (rhetorical question, I don't want your answer) We here have a vanguard, some ethical goal to strive for and the belief that acting correctly as a dedicated small group to improve society is more important than simply winning and doing unethical actions that would allow us to become an oppressor majority. Most either don't know about us or if they do they simply don't appreciate us and simply erase and mock us by e.g. calling it "Linux" instead of GNU/Linux, we try to have strict ethics and many of you find us to be "lunatics". People prefer the oppression of "pragmatic" conformance to the majority than strict ethical goals for improvement of the wellbeing of people. You are not partaking in revolution, you are partaking in a reaction, you are not the rebels, you are the rulers.
Why are you writing all that? I didn't say anything. All I did was link a new Canoeboot release :)
By the way:
https://mas.to/@libreleah/114072729848843616
The spat with FSF has been over since February 2025. FSF even links Canoeboot on their website now, on these places:
https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/campaigns-summaries#free-bios
https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/free-bios.html
And the texts you're quoting from libreboot.org don't really matter do they? Since this thread is about Canoeboot. The link to the torvalds argument is also a bit weird, since I'm not talking about Linux or Linus at all. I respect Linus and Linux, and I wish to respect you too, so please show some courtesy.
I think you should have a bit more respect. I'm trying my best to be nice. Of course, I respect your viewpoint, but obviously we will agree to disagree.
I'd like to make sure that this thread remains civil, so I ask that you try to focus on Canoeboot please.
Yes, I do have certain opinions that persons such as yourself may disagree with. It just so happens that I work on my projects with different motivations than you.
Is disagreement on an ideological level such as this, a good reason to write such abuse? To the point of implying that I'm somehow an "enemy"?
I'll leave it at that. If you don't like me, that's fine, but all I ask is you try to focus on the merits. FSDG has merit, as an alternative choice among many, and Canoeboot is one of such choices; Libreboot is another choice, which some people might like, and others not. It takes all sorts to make a world!
well, i only promote canoeboot stuff here, since it's trisquel. but since you ask:
yes, i do have an x1 carbon gen6, and i've looked at the schematics. same EC as the T480. pretty much the same board, probably ok to port. i've got a bunch of other skylake and kabylake thinkpads to port. we'll probably h ave a few of them for the june release.
i wanted them in the april release but i was awol in february and half of march, on other errands, so ended up prioritising mostly build system and infrastructure things for this release. board support will be my focus for june now.
and there are also a few more canoeboot-eligible boards that i'm looking at
Much appreciated update !
Thank you for the hard work.