"In 2022, Debian developers decided to include some much-needed but non-free firmware to enhance their distribution's compatibility with a wider range of hardware. There were several reasons for this, including the state of open-source firmware for Nvidia GPUs. Given the importance of graphics devices in relation to AI, having firmware and drivers that are fully capable can mean the difference between them working properly and not."
"I'm a 10+ year Debian user, and a longtime Free Software supporter. Two weeks ago, I was shocked to discover 29 non-free components in the Debian desktop I'd been using for the last couple of months. There hadn't been any opt-in or even a notice about Debian's major policy change during the installation process (I use the Debian installer via the Live images), so I was completely unaware."
Debian added non-free firmware in 2022 to improve hardware compatibility, notably for Nvidia GPUs, because capable firmware and drivers affect functionality for graphics and AI. The inclusion prompted objections from free-software purists despite an option to disable non-free firmware during installation. Many users reported discovering multiple non-free components without being informed. User dissatisfaction persisted and the Debian team spent considerable time seeking a compromise. The compromise is Debian Libre Live, a new live distribution that includes only free, open-source software. The distribution is early in development but already offers a solid base for users who require purely libre components.
Read at ZDNET
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