1 (edited by frantic 2024-03-31 14:48:54)

Topic: Linux 6.x LTS upgrade for Hyperbola

Hey everyone, I'm here to get some discussion and propose some patches that I'm currently making for the Linux kernel.

Currently, Hyperbola is using Linux-libre 5.10 LTS which is a great kernel. But after some research, I've found that it actually still contains some tools for use with Rust and references. While it doesn't have actual code, I'm not sure whether those tools/references would affect freedom.

Anyways, I've started a project called: linux-rustless. It's a project where I host free patches for the Linux kernel that remove any code, tools, and references for Rust in the Linux source tree. It works with the vanilla kernel as well as the libre kernel.
Currently, I've made patches for Linux 5.15.x and 6.1.0-6.1.4.

The patches for 5.15.x remove references and tools for Rust in the source code, making sure it is 100% free software.
The patches for kernel 6.1.0 to 6.1.4 remove lots and lots of Rust code, all of it in fact. Same with tools and references. We can get up to date kernels while staying nice, simple, and free software.

My proposal is that we can possibly look into upgrading the kernel to an up-to-date one while keeping Rust out with the patches I've made. I'm going to keep testing and adding newer kernel versions. I'm currently using Gentoo with: Linux 6.1.0-gentoo-gnu-rustless and it works very well! Compiles fine and I've had no stability issues.

Linux 5.15 and 6.1 are LTS kernels, same with 6.6, but I haven't added support for 6.6 yet. So it still contains lots of Rust inside of it.

I understand Hyperbola will be changing to a BSD soon, but while that's in development, there's nothing wrong with upgrading what we have now.

I'm happy to test and to contribute. We could possibly remove the "-rustless" EXTRAVERSION and replace it with something else if it is too long.

Patches: https://git.paranoia.wf/frantic/linux-rustless

Thanks guys! smile

2

Re: Linux 6.x LTS upgrade for Hyperbola

Thanks for the work, would you mind perhaps to tryout providing a current PKGBUILD or an own mirror for those kernels so the community can try this out? The point is that our major focus is surely getting the Linux-kernel (including GNU/Linux-libre) out and the work for HyperbolaBSD done. So when we focus now on the Linux-kernel itself and its Rust-issues growing to patch them out, we loose also quite a bit of our focus for preparing the BSD-change.

Human being in favor with clear principles and so also for freedom in soft- and hardware!

Certainly anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices: For a life of every being full with peace and kindness, including diversity and freedom. Capitalism is destroying our minds, the planet itself and the universe in the end!

3 (edited by frantic 2024-03-31 16:04:20)

Re: Linux 6.x LTS upgrade for Hyperbola

throgh wrote:

Thanks for the work, would you mind perhaps to tryout providing a current PKGBUILD or an own mirror for those kernels so the community can try this out? The point is that our major focus is surely getting the Linux-kernel (including GNU/Linux-libre) out and the work for HyperbolaBSD done. So when we focus now on the Linux-kernel itself and its Rust-issues growing to patch them out, we loose also quite a bit of our focus for preparing the BSD-change.

I can look at making a PKGBUILD of 6.1.5 and send it here. I can understand why you need to focus on the BSD, but it doesn't seem like it will be released very soon. I'm happy to make PKGBUILDs and stuff and send them to someone.
Could you please let me know how you guys make your kernel configs? Do you take them from Arch or Parabola and base off those? I'm going to need to know so I can publish a working PKGBUILD.
Would you like me to also provide a pre-patched Linux-libre and rustless source tarball? Or would you like me to apply the patches on compile time?
Thanks a lot.

4

Re: Linux 6.x LTS upgrade for Hyperbola

Here is the the complete source for the package: https://git.hyperbola.info:50100/packag … -libre-lts
At most it would be interesting to patch our 5.10 also. We have not much time to do a "fork" or "modification" for especially GNU/Linux-libre also.

Human being in favor with clear principles and so also for freedom in soft- and hardware!

Certainly anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices: For a life of every being full with peace and kindness, including diversity and freedom. Capitalism is destroying our minds, the planet itself and the universe in the end!

5

Re: Linux 6.x LTS upgrade for Hyperbola

throgh wrote:

Here is the the complete source for the package: https://git.hyperbola.info:50100/packag … -libre-lts
At most it would be interesting to patch our 5.10 also. We have not much time to do a "fork" or "modification" for especially GNU/Linux-libre also.

I'll make sure to add 5.10.x support as well as 6.1.5.
I wouldn't call this a fork really, it's quite easy to switch to. A new kernel config would just need to be made, as well as some other improvement patches which I'm sure I can scratch up from Debian as they use 6.1.
Like I said, I'm happy to do all this. I can test and make everything work.
I'll write back to you once I've gotten a working Hyperbola setup with the new kernel.

6

Re: Linux 6.x LTS upgrade for Hyperbola

Okay, feel free. Would be interesting also for the community. smile

Human being in favor with clear principles and so also for freedom in soft- and hardware!

Certainly anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices: For a life of every being full with peace and kindness, including diversity and freedom. Capitalism is destroying our minds, the planet itself and the universe in the end!

7

Re: Linux 6.x LTS upgrade for Hyperbola

Also about 6.1: https://lore.kernel.org/stable/20231205 … c3@quack3/

Human being in favor with clear principles and so also for freedom in soft- and hardware!

Certainly anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices: For a life of every being full with peace and kindness, including diversity and freedom. Capitalism is destroying our minds, the planet itself and the universe in the end!