this post was submitted on 29 Apr 2026
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Technology
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Quite a few people seem to disagree.
Specifically how?
Some important drivers are not FOSS, thus making the standard Linux kernel not FOSS if you use Stallman's definition.
I think your vague wording is implying that the non-standard Linux kernel is not FOSS. But, you've been maximally non-specific.
Are you talking firmware blobs, or actual drivers? If it's the latter, do you have a link? I'm curious!
Who are these people who think drivers can't be open source?
No one said they can't be. But in the real world, drivers for some classes of devices only come in closed-source. I'm using the GNU project's/RMS's definition of FOSS here.
Are you talking about firmware?
Well, explain first what you mean by Linux.