Re: [fsf-community-team] Free Software, What about Free Hardware?

[James Phillips]

On Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 12:22:46PM -0800, Franz Christopher wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> I don't know if I am over-stepping my membership in this list by posting
> something out of the blue, however, I have heard a great deal about Free
> Software, but I have yet to hear about Free Hardware. Is there such a thing?
> 
> Thinking about it makes me think that hardware manufacturers would stand to
> benefit from Free Hardware, imagine, the hardware manufacturer makes the
> device and the firmware is free to be run for any purpose, free to be
> studied and modified, free to be improved upon and free to be redistributed.
<SNIP!>  
> This is something I would purchase in a heartbeat

Would you still purchase it in a heartbeat if it costs twice as much as 
the proprietary Hardware?

One reason the freesoftware movement has taken off is the low (still 
non-zero) cost of reproduction. If you want something more than a "toy" 
(less than 16Mhz, 8bit) you need a Printed Circuit Board. Many 
components are sold in quantities of 10,000. Surface MounT components 
are difficult, but not impossible for the hobbyist to solder.
> 
> Is this something that might happen?
> Where can I find more information regarding this topic?
> Does this sort of thing infringe upon the GNU/GPL in any way?
> I am no hardware expert, is this sort of thing feasible?
> 
 Linkname: OGP - Welcome to the Open Graphics Project : HomePage
        URL: http://wiki.opengraphics.org/tiki-index.php
Last time I enquired, the hardware is ~$1000 and the proprietary
software used for burning the FPGA is even more expensive. I Decided to 
make a $1000 donation/subsidy instead (but haven't gotten around to it 
yet.) 

   Linkname: Main Page - Openmoko (Cell phone)
        URL: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Main_Page
Criticism of the project:
http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=48734&start=40#p1879299
"Openmoko dropped the ball in a big pile of manure, and then asked the
   community to lick it off." - SpeedEvil


   Linkname: WebHome < Main < Reprap
        URL: http://reprap.org/bin/view/Main/WebHome
"   RepRap is short for Replicating Rapid-prototyper. It is the
   practical self-copying 3D printer introduced in the video on
   the right - a self-replicating machine. This 3D printer
   builds the parts up in layers of plastic. This technology
   already exists, but the cheapest commercial machine would
   cost you about €30,000. And it isn't even designed so that it
   can make itself."

I am not optimistic they will be successful in the near-term. Patents 
will likely be a real hurdle, even if you manage produce parts that 
self-calibrate the size/clock rate each generation.

   Linkname: An Open Source Processor used in Sun SPARC Servers |
          OpenSPARC
        URL: http://www.opensparc.net/
"Download the only free 64-bit micro processors"

Note that burning this onto an ASIC is not "free" (free as in freedom, 
not beer. (hmmm the abiguity of that clarification works.))

I am probably missing some things, but you get the idea. For software 
development, you get a $2000 dollar machine, free software and you are 
rolling (unless you are doing enough number crunching to need more 
computing power). Depending what you are doing in electronics, the costs 
of the equipment and parts can quickly escalate: especially if you make a 
mistake you are not able to re-work. 

Then there is the issue of certification to consider. I think each  
certification you get will easily cost $1000, but don't quote me on that :)
Certification could be required (such as UL or CSA) before you plug your 
device into the wall by your insurance company. As far as I can tell, 
CSA does periodic factory inspections, so there is no way to keep a 
one-off or short-lived product certified (destructive testing aside). I 
have also started looking for USB certification in USB devices to gain 
some extra confidence they will work with tho OS(s) of my choice. A USB 
oscilliscope I am interested in is not USB certified, but Linux is 
supported, so I may make an exception :)

   Linkname: Syscomp Electronic Design Ltd.
        URL: http://www.syscompdesign.com/DSO101.html
(My current "workstation" does not meet the minimum system requirements 
:P (I have replacement hardware, but need to play "musical computers"))

For electronics I recommend starting small. So far, I have built 
lighting systems for my bike (essentially a flashlight). I am thinking 
of making the leap to LED headlamps which  require better cooling (lower 
operating temperature) and a current source instead of a voltage source 
(more complicated circuitry) when compared to the Halogen light I can't 
get replacement bulbs for. That reminds me of another thing: if you are 
using bleeding-edge components you may want to buy 10,000 if you want to 
avoid re-working your design every 2-3 years.


Regards,

James Phillips