Personal Gentoo overlay, focusing mostly on needed tools and compatibility for the Librem 14 computer.

Available packages:

• sys-kernel/libre-kernel: A dist-kernel built from the Linux-libre sources.
• sys-kernel/librem-ec-acpi: An ebuild packaging the Librem 14 EC ACPI kernel module, necessary for proper functioning of the laptop's battery charging and function keys.

How to Add This Repository

Using eselect-repository:

# eselect repository add projectmoon git https://git.agnos.is/projectmoon/projectmoon-overlay

The Linux-libre dist-kernel

This overlay provides a dist-kernel (based on sys-kernel/vanilla-kernel) using the Linux-libre kernel sources, and an accompanying updated version of virtual/dist-kernel. It is maintained and tested for my personal use on amd64. The Linux-libre kernel removes the ability for the Linux kernel to load firmware that is not Free Software. The ebuild follows the current stable gentoo-kernel for amd64.

The libre kernel can be installed alongside other dist-kernels, and works with the dist-kernel and initramfs USE flags. The ebuild does NOT fail if non-free firmware (i.e. sys-kernel/linux-firmware with redistributable USE flag set) is installed, but it will warn you if this is the case. It will also warn you if the linux-firmware package is not found at all, like normal dist-kernel ebuilds.

The kernel installed by this ebuild has the version suffix -gnu-dist, making it easy to determine which kernel it is.

To install only the Linux firmware that meets the Free Software Definition, configure /etc/portage/package.use accordingly:

# Install only libre firmware
sys-kernel/linux-firmware -redistributable -unknown-license

You can also edit /etc/portage/profile/package.use.mask to prevent the linux-firmware package from ever installing the closed-source firmware by adding this line:

# forcibly stop non-free firmware installation
sys-kernel/linux-firmware redistributable unknown-license

Using the Librem EC ACPI kernel module

The Librem EC ACPI kernel module should install and be automatically available (via modprobe) after installation, using emerge sys-kernel/librem-ec-acpi. The module is currently installed to /lib/modules/<kernel>/librem/.

This ebuild supports the dist-kernel USE flag, and the module will automatically be rebuilt when installing a new dist-kernel if that flag is enabled.

If you are not using a dist-kernel, when upgrading or installing a new kernel, you will need to do emerge @modules-rebuild to install the module for the new kernel.