I just tried #FreeBSD 14.2-BETA1 to use #WiFi on 6 YEARS OLD ThinkPad T480 from 2018 - and it does NOT work - Intel AX210 card.
Yes - #FreeBSD is really fucked up when it comes to WiFi.
This one below is still really and painfully relevant :(
https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2022/09/14/freebsd-cope-with-wifi-fuckup/
Some updates.
I replaced Intel AX210 with Intel 9260 card.
That allowed to connect to WiFi.
But while my 13 years old Intel 6300 in W520 gives 11 MB/s speed - the 9260 gives only 3 MB/s ... while being closer to the WiFi router :ASD
@vermaden@mastodon.bsd.cafe it actually upsets me how little Linux drivers actually give back to other open operating systems and kernels. GPL prohibits a lot, but also just the difference in kernel structure between linux & FreeBSD. iwlwifi on Linux is first class, I love it. On FreeBSD… yeah I have given up trying. I love my AX211 and AX210 cards.
@puppygirlhornypost2 The #GNU GPL doesn't prohibit anything, you can use code licensed under the #GNU GPL for any purpose, however you want. Sorta the whole point of #SoftwareFreedom
@vermaden
@amszmidt@mastodon.social @vermaden@mastodon.bsd.cafe I cannot relicense GPL drivers under BSD clause without the explicit permission of every contributor. FreeBSD is licensed under BSD clause and doesn’t contain any GPL code for a reason. Writing drivers based off of GPL drivers can also be in a gray area because of derivative work.
@puppygirlhornypost2 You cannot relicense 3-clause BSD license under any other license either without the same requirements. FreeBSD contains plenty of GNU GPL code.
@amszmidt@mastodon.social @vermaden@mastodon.bsd.cafe GPL code in ports maybe. I’m not sure if there’s GPL in the kernel (I remember a very specific controversy about a plagiarized wireguard implementation copying and pasting GPL code into the tree). Either way, my point is less about GPL itself and more about the fact that linux is very popular. People make drivers for it all the time, there are thousands of contributors to the Linux kernel and BSD simply doesn’t get that same level of attention. Linux has Intel directly contributing to drivers like i915. It wouldn’t matter much about using other operating system’s drivers as a starting point if people came over with their expertise and helped get some stuff working.
@amszmidt@mastodon.social @vermaden@mastodon.bsd.cafe I guess it’s more fair to say I’m frustrated at the lack of attention BSD gets.
@puppygirlhornypost2 @vermaden It would be nice if it got more attention, more #FreeSoftware the better. But nothing stop FreeBSD from using #GNU GPL drivers, it is a choice they have actively made (for better or worse ...).
Drivers are probably the hardest thing when it comes to free systems, we all want to support the Frobnicator .. but having to write it in 10 different ways isn't really useful.
GPL has nothing to do with freedom ... but has lots in common with communism.
GPL has nothing to do with REAL FREEDOM.
@vermaden And what is "REAL FREEDOM"?
@vermaden So that means I can violate the terms of the 3-clause BSD license? E.g., remove any attribution to you?