Following the Linux 6.16 kernel release from Sunday evening, GNU Linux-libre 6.16-gnu is now available for that kernel downstream that strips out driver/kernel code dependent upon non-free-software microcode/firmware, the ability to load proprietary kernel modules, and carving out other bits of the Linux kernel not meeting their stringent free software standards.
For the GNU Linux-libre 6.16-gnu release they have had to deal with Intel CPU microcode changes, the NOVA and Nouveau NVIDIA drivers, Qualcomm ath11k and ath12k WiFi, the Intel new QAT Gen6 support, and a variety of other driver alterations:
“* neutered blob loading and even an inline blob (eeew!) in new drivers for Intel qat 6xxx crypto, ST vd55g1 sensor, ath12k AHB wifi, Aeonsemi AS21xxx and MediaTek 25Gb ethernet PHY
* cleaned up blob names in new Qualcomm and MediaTek ARM64 devicetree files
* adjusted cleaning up of Intel microcode loader docs, Nova Core and Nouveau drivers for Nvidia GPUs, Realtek r8169 ethernet, Qualcomm Iris and Venus video decoders, Mediatek mt7996 wifi, Qualcomm ath11k and ath12k wifi, Texas Instruments tas2781 codec and speaker amplifier, and Renesas R-Car gen4 PCIe controller doc.
* cleaning up of new blob names in Intel VPU, AMD GPU, and btusb blob names that had already been backported into stable 6.15.*-gnu releases during the 6.16-gnu development cycle.”
Plus their custom artwork for each new GNU Linux-libre kernel release:
This new kernel for those interested can be found at FSFLA.org.
