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Adding missing firmwares - Newbie Question

Added by Alexander Stylianides over 10 years ago

I recently came to know the existence of Replicant roms (I own a Nexus One)

Are the necessary firmware files are supposed to be extracted from an existing working rom (e.g. Cyanogenmod) and be added to the rom afterwards?


Replies (12)

RE: Adding missing firmwares - Newbie Question - Added by Paul Kocialkowski over 10 years ago

The Nexus One is currently "looking for maintainer". That means until someone gets involved, we are not working on the device anymore. That is a way of saying we dropped support for it, so don't expect wonders.

To answer your questions, yes, you need to extract the firmwares from e.g. CyanogenMod since Replicant does not ship any non-free firmware. We don't provide instructions for that as we do not encourage the use of non-free software.

RE: Adding missing firmwares - Newbie Question - Added by Alexander Stylianides over 10 years ago

I see. I believe the lower limit of usability is to have a working modem and audio system for calls and messages. I can certainly live without the camera of N1, if I had a second device lying around for daily use I could offer it for testing. I'd like to do some first steps on driver developing myself, but I have neither the time nor the knowledge for that. I'd be on the lookout for any progress, though.

RE: Adding missing firmwares - Newbie Question - Added by Flint Stone over 10 years ago

I had the previous version of Replicant installed on my Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, but replaced it by Cyanogenmod because of the missing firmwares. I know that these firmwares are a flaw, but i'd nevertheless had rather Replicant running with them, than Cyanogenmod. I could not find an instruction on how to get and install the firmwares. If anyone knows of, would you please place a link to it here?

RE: Adding missing firmwares - Newbie Question - Added by Paul Kocialkowski over 10 years ago

I understand, but these instructions have to come from the community and not from our project directly. I may write such instructions on my personal blog (after explaining in details what I think about firmwares). Else you can come in on IRC and you may get help about it.

RE: Adding missing firmwares - Newbie Question - Added by Michael S about 10 years ago

I recently figured this out on my own for the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. Is it OK for me to post some hints to help others here, given I'm from the community and not affiliated with the project? Or would it need to be posted somewhere else since this forum belongs to the project?

RE: Adding missing firmwares - Newbie Question - Added by Paul Kocialkowski about 10 years ago

Please don't post the instructions here, post them somewhere else and maybe put a link to it here (even that is borderline).
I will write an article about it on my personal blog on day.

RE: Adding missing firmwares - Newbie Question - Added by Linus Drumbler about 10 years ago

Please edit your post to remove those links. We as a free software project cannot link to sites that recommend or promote proprietary software, and that is what you are doing by linking to those instructions. Replicant aims to bring you a phone without proprietary software, and installing the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth firmware defeats the purpose of the project.

RE: Adding missing firmwares - Newbie Question - Added by Michael S about 10 years ago

Linus,

I understand and respect the principle you refer to (although I have a different perspective on how best to weigh it against competing principles, such as the importance of enabling more people to learn about, try, and take an interest in free software). That is why I asked for permission in this thread (see above, a few posts back). Paul Kocialkowski replied:

Please don't post the instructions here, post them somewhere else and maybe put a link to it here (even that is borderline). I will write an article about it on my personal blog on day.

That's why I spent time writing the instructions and posted a link, as Paul had suggested.

Best regards,

Michael

RE: Adding missing firmwares - Newbie Question - Added by Paul Kocialkowski about 10 years ago

Linus: please do not ask people to remove such links. The forums and mailing list are a public place of expression for the community and does not reflect the ideas behind our project but only the opinion of individuals that are not affiliated with our project. This is very different than posting that link on our wiki or blog, which have to reflect the motivations behind the project and hence not advise or explain how to install proprietary software on the device.

However, I think it's important that we highlight why we do not endorse such instructions and don't include the firmwares in Replicant when someone wants to know how to install the firmwares here or posts a link or explanations on how to do it.

RE: Adding missing firmwares - Newbie Question - Added by Paul Kocialkowski about 10 years ago

Michael: your instructions are fine, but a bit complicated! You can do much easier than creating an install zip actually. A simply shell script to run on the host computer is enough :) I'm working on such a script and will post it on my personal website soon.

RE: Adding missing firmwares - Newbie Question - Added by Michael S about 10 years ago

Paul: Thanks - glad to hear there's an easier way! Look forward to learning about it.

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