Open-source firmware is

firmware In computing, firmware is a specific class of computer software that provides the low-level control for a device's specific hardware. Firmware, such as the BIOS of a personal computer, may contain basic functions of a device, and may provide ...

that is published under an

open-source license An open-source license is a type of license for computer software and other products that allows the source code, blueprint or design to be used, modified and/or shared under defined terms and conditions. This allows end users and commercial compan ...

. It can be contrasted with

proprietary firmware Proprietary firmware is any firmware on which is not free (libre). Examples of proprietary works include ones upon which the author has placed restrictions on use, private modification, copying, or republishing. Proprietors may enforce restrictio ...

, which is published under a proprietary license or

EULA An end-user license agreement or EULA () is a legal contract between a software supplier and a customer or end-user, generally made available to the customer via a retailer acting as an intermediary. A EULA specifies in detail the rights and restr ...

Examples

OpenWrt OpenWrt (from ''open wireless router'') is an open-source project for embedded operating systems based on Linux, primarily used on embedded devices to route network traffic. The main components are Linux, util-linux, musl, and BusyBox. A ...

DD-WRT DD-WRT is Linux-based firmware for wireless routers and Wireless access point, access points. Originally designed for the Linksys WRT54G series, it now runs on a wide variety of models. DD-WRT is one of a handful of List of router firmware proj ...

coreboot coreboot, formerly known as LinuxBIOS, is a software project aimed at replacing proprietary firmware (BIOS or UEFI) found in most computers with a lightweight firmware designed to perform only the minimum number of tasks necessary to load and r ...

SeaBIOS SeaBIOS is an open-source implementation of an x86 BIOS, serving as a freely available firmware for x86 systems. Aiming for compatibility, it supports standard BIOS features and calling interfaces that are implemented by a typical proprietary ...

LinuxBoot LinuxBoot is a free software project aimed at replacing most of the Driver Execution Environment (DXE) modules in Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware with the Linux kernel. LinuxBoot must run on top of hardware initialisation so ...

Libreboot Libreboot (briefly known as GNU Libreboot) is a free software project based on coreboot, aimed at replacing the proprietary BIOS firmware contained by most computers. Libreboot is a lightweight system designed to perform only the minimum number ...

Marlin (firmware) Marlin is open source firmware originally designed for RepRap project FDM (fused deposition modeling) 3D printers using the Arduino platform. Once the firmware has been compiled from C++ source code; it is installed and runs on a mainboard wit ...

, Arduino-based firmware for 3D printers * PinePhone LTE modem *

Rockbox Rockbox is a free and open-source software replacement for the OEM firmware in various forms of digital audio players (DAPs) with an original kernel. It offers an alternative to the player's operating system, in many cases without removing the o ...

, a replacement firmware for various digital audio players *

QMK QMK (Quantum Mechanical Keyboard) is open-source firmware for microcontrollers that control computer keyboards A computer keyboard is a peripheral input device modeled after the typewriter keyboard which uses an arrangement of buttons or k ...

U-Boot U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare ro ...

Examples

See also

References

Further reading