Software Development

The unfortunate reality is that x86 computers come encumbered with built-in low-level backdoors like the Intel Management Engine , as well as nonfree boot firmware. This means that users can’t gain full control over their computers, even if they install a free operating system such as Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre .

Hyperbola is working hard to fix these issues and getting closer every day, but for the time being, this is why many current Respects Your Freedom (RYF) offerings are refurbished older devices.

For the future of free computing, we need support architectures that do not come with such malware pre-installed, and the Power9-based Talos II promises to be a great architecture example for workstations and servers environments where Hyperbola is focused since is a fully free long-term support distribution.

Devices like this are the future of computing that Respects Your Freedom and for that reason it’s a high priority for Hyperbola port all packages for the POWER architecture (power64le).

The unfortunate reality is that x86 computers come encumbered with built-in low-level backdoors like the Intel Management Engine , as well as nonfree boot firmware. This means that users can’t gain full control over their computers, even if they install a free operating system such as Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre .

Hyperbola is working hard to fix these issues and getting closer every day, but for the time being, this is why many current Respects Your Freedom (RYF) offerings are refurbished older devices.

For the future of free computing, we need support architectures that do not come with such malware pre-installed, and RISC-V promises to be a great architecture example for low-power computers, laptops and embedded systems, also as ARM architecture replacement.

Devices like this are the future of computing that Respects Your Freedom and for that reason it’s a high priority for Hyperbola port all packages for the RISC-V architecture (riscv64) with multilib support.

Develop HyperBK (Hyper Berkeley Kernel) based on LibertyBSD‘s kernel for Hyperbola GNU/HyperBK port.

TODO:

• Download LibertyBSD kernel source code from LibertyBSD site.

• Create a new project in Hyperbola Git called hyperbk.

• Push source to HyperBK’s project.

• Rebrand LibertyBSD kernel to HyperBK.

• Implement, develop or import new features such as Nouveau support.

• Package HyperBK.

PATCHING NOTE

When the check concerns kernel, we obviously want to match with HyperBK.

Example of triplet check:	hyperbk-gnu)
Example of uname check:		GNU/HyperBK)
Example of C macro check:	defined(__HyperBK__)

Develop GNU/HyperBK patchset for toolchain (Glibc, Binutils and GCC) and packages.

PATCHING NOTE

Make sure the definitions are not simply duplicated from GNU/Linux' because that will eventually result in
out-of-sync definitions that break for us.

Example of triplet check:	linux*-gnu | gnu* | hyperbk-gnu)
Example of uname check:		Linux|GNU|GNU/*)
Example of C macro check:	defined(__linux__) || defined(__GNU__) || defined(__GLIBC__)
				[note: GNU/Hurd defines __GNU__, and GNU/HyperBK define __GLIBC__ as hardcoded macro]
Example of makefile check:	ifneq (, $(filter Linux GNU GNU_%, $(shell uname -s)))
				[note1: findstring matches subwords, use filter instead]
				[note2: list must be the first parameter, otherwise matching fails]
				[note3: "%" is make's wildcard]

Name: New Tab Tools
Version: 81 (compatible Firefox version 52)
Source code: Github
Description: Customize Firefox’s. Tabs Page

https://github.com/darktrojan/newtabtools

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/new-tab-tools/

0.9.5.8.4 version would be good to have.

Create hypertools to replace libretools package

It’s long period to develop this package.
For now, a systemd-nspawn wrapper is being developed for “libretools”[0]

[0]:https://issues.hyperbola.info/index.php?do=details&task_id=86

Icecat currently has the FSF approved addon for Startpage.com.
It would be helpful to have it ported to iceweasel-uxp.
https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Startpage_HTTPS_Privacy_Search_Engine

I know you have misgivings about that arm laptop, I mentioned, and arm as a whole, but people will be buying it no doubt.

I think you won’t stop that from happening whether you support it or not. the same is said with other arm laptops such as the MNT Reform Laptop and even the chromebook c201 asus which is questionable but can be run with mostly free software, except for 3D and wifi. (use wifi adapter)

Those are just a few arm laptops that need your support. You may know of others, but yeah, I want you to support as many of the ones that can run mostly on free software, as possible.

But yeah, we don’t know when two of those are coming out, so I understand completely if you want to wait till a more opportune time. But yeah, when you find a chance in the future to support them, please do so.

Description:
Historically, Swiftweasel was a Firefox-based application built on XUL platform around 2007 and abandoned in 2010. It was optimized for several architectures using the following methods such as the Profile-Guided Optimization (PGO) and binary code optimization for computers with limited resources.

Since there are users encouraging us develop a Palemoon-based application , and Swiftweasel contains non-trademarked graphics and logos, we could port Swiftweasel to UXP platform as theme for Iceweasel-UXP.

Description:
Historically, Swiftdove was a Thunderbird-based application built on XUL platform around 2007 and abandoned in 2010. It was optimized for several architectures using the following methods such as the Profile-Guided Optimization (PGO) and binary code optimization for computers with limited resources.

Since FossaMail may potentially be revived on UXP in the future [0] and Swiftdove contains non-trademarked graphics and logos, we could port Swiftdove to UXP platform as theme for Icedove-UXP.

Name: FireGestures
Version: 1.11.1 (compatible Firefox version 52)
Source code: Github
Description: A customizable mouse gestures extension which enables to execute various commands and user scripts with six types of gestures.

https://github.com/gomita/firegestures/

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/firegestures/