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Anne Dickison
Guest
The FreeBSD Foundation’s Laptop Support and Usability Project is in full swing, and staying updated has never been easier. The first monthly report is now available. Highlights include:
Graphics Driver – New documentation now provides clear guidance for developers updating DRM drivers from Linux to FreeBSD, fostering broader community support. The next focus is to update the graphics drivers incrementally through newer Linux versions eventually reaching Linux kernel version 6.12.
Intel WiFi Driver PoC – A proof-of-concept iwx driver for Intel WiFi, imported from OpenBSD via Haiku, has successfully achieved network association and full 802.11a/b/g functionality. January’s focus will be on enabling HT rates and preparing for wider testing.
Graphics Drivers: Linux 6.7 Porting – The DRM driver code from Linux 6.7 has been ported to drm-kmod, with successful i915 and amdgpu testing. A persistent i915 display bug is set to be addressed in January before upstream submission.
The full report contains progress updates on supported laptop models, desktop environments, and technical debt work. More details about the project can be found in the GitHub repo.
In parallel, the community-led Laptop Desktop Working Group (LDWG), also known as “Ludwig”, launched in December. Led by Chris Moerz, LDWG focuses on:
- Encouraging contributions by developers, testers, and industry experts to enhance the usability of FreeBSD on laptops and desktops.
- Facilitating collaboration through code contributions, testing initiatives, operational support, and hardware insights.
- Supporting the creation, validation, prioritization, and delivery of user stories identified in the Foundation’s Laptop Support and Usability Project.
- Creating content such as recordings, articles, tutorials, documentation, and system configurations for those interested in FreeBSD on laptops and desktops.
Minutes from the first two meetings along with details on how to get involved can be found on the wiki. Videos are also available on the FreeBSD Project’s youtube channel.
A huge thank you to Chris Moerz for leading this initiative! The Foundation is excited to see the FreeBSD community come together on this effort and looks forward to the great progress ahead.
The post Laptop Support and Usability Project Update: First Monthly Report & Community Initiatives first appeared on FreeBSD Foundation.
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