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Fund high-impact firmware reverse engineering projects

The problem

Modern new user hardware reality often requires non-free-firmware to even get as far as interacting with debian-installer.

Actual situation

See the current GR which is a pragmatic workaround for the changing hardware situation. In addition and alongside this effort I would like to spend Debian's money on restoring previous expectations. A key point is how can a user select a non-default option if they cannot see or hear it? so that is the myopic scope I would like to constrain and focus on. Networking is also included as a bare minimum for users to be able to follow up on and research their options after install.

Expected situation

I need help fleshing this out, ran out of spoons getting this far written down

In scope

  • Current consumer off-the-shelf devices
  • Video
  • Audio
  • Network
  • Finding existing projects

Maybe in scope

  • Targetted hardware vendor lobbying if it seems they might be responsive
  • Drivers - I'm not familiar enough with the distinction to write about it
  • Signed firmware loading systems (Intel's sof)
  • Establishing a project for cross-distro co-ordination
  • External usb adapters if libre and easily (global? cheap?) available for Eth/Wifi/Speaker
  • NDA specs

Out of scope

  • User education about alternatives (coreboot/libre vendors/RYF/oshw)
  • General purpose hardware lobbying
  • Intel Management Engine

Additional information

Edited by emorrp1
To upload designs, you'll need to enable LFS and have an admin enable hashed storage. More information