Merge pull request 'Simplify the README' (#269) from runxiyu/lbmk:readme-simplification into master

Reviewed-on: https://codeberg.org/libreboot/lbmk/pulls/269

1 files changed, 46 insertions, 112 deletions

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f8de18aa..e6452dbd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,123 +1,57 @@
 Libreboot
 =========
 
-Find libreboot documentation at <https://libreboot.org/>
-
-The `libreboot` project provides
-[libre](https://libreboot.org/freedom-status.html) *boot
-firmware* that initializes the hardware (e.g. memory controller, CPU,
-peripherals) on specific Intel/AMD x86 and ARM targets, which
-then starts a bootloader for your operating system. Linux/BSD are
-well-supported. It replaces proprietary BIOS/UEFI firmware. Help is available
-via [\#libreboot IRC](https://web.libera.chat/#libreboot)
-on [Libera](https://libera.chat/) IRC.
-
-Why use Libreboot?
-==================
-
-Why should you use *libreboot*?
-----------------------------
-
-Libreboot gives you freedoms that you otherwise can't get with most other
-boot firmware. It's extremely powerful and configurable for many use cases.
-
-You have rights. The right to privacy, freedom of thought, freedom of speech
-and the right to read. In this context, Libreboot gives you these rights.
-Your freedom matters.
-[Right to repair](https://vid.puffyan.us/watch?v=Npd_xDuNi9k) matters.
-Many people use proprietary (non-libre)
-boot firmware, even if they use [a libre OS](https://www.openbsd.org/).
-Proprietary firmware often contains backdoors (more info on the FAQ), and it
-and can be buggy. The libreboot project was founded in December 2013,
-with the express purpose of making coreboot firmware accessible for
-non-technical users.
-
-The `libreboot` project uses [coreboot](https://www.coreboot.org/) for [hardware
-initialisation](https://doc.coreboot.org/getting_started/architecture.html).
-Coreboot is notoriously difficult to install for most non-technical users; it
-handles only basic initialization and jumps to a separate
-[payload](https://doc.coreboot.org/payloads.html) program (e.g.
-[GRUB](https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/),
-[Tianocore](https://www.tianocore.org/)), which must also be configured.
-*The libreboot software solves this problem*; it is a *coreboot distribution* with
-an automated build system (named *lbmk*) that builds complete *ROM images*, for
-more robust installation. Documentation is provided.
-
-How does Libreboot differ from coreboot?
-========================================
-
-In the same way that *Debian* is a Linux distribution, `libreboot` is
-a *coreboot distribution*. If you want to build a ROM image from scratch, you
-otherwise have to perform expert-level configuration of coreboot, GRUB and
-whatever other software you need, to prepare the ROM image. With *libreboot*,
-you can literally download from Git or a source archive, and run `make`, and it
-will build entire ROM images. An automated build system, named `lbmk`
-(Libreboot MaKe), builds these ROM images automatically, without any user input
-or intervention required. Configuration has already been performed in advance.
-
-If you were to build regular coreboot, without using libreboot's automated
-build system, it would require a lot more intervention and decent technical
-knowledge to produce a working configuration.
-
-Regular binary releases of `libreboot` provide these
-ROM images pre-compiled, and you can simply install them, with no special
-knowledge or skill except the ability to follow installation instructions
-and run commands BSD/Linux.
-
-Project goals
-=============
-
--   *Support as much hardware as possible!* Libreboot aims to eventually
-    have *maintainers* for every board supported by coreboot, at every
-    point in time.
--   *Make coreboot easy to use*. Coreboot is notoriously difficult
-    to install, due to an overall lack of user-focused documentation
-    and support. Most people will simply give up before attempting to
-    install coreboot. Libreboot's automated build system and user-friendly
-    installation instructions solves this problem.
-
-Libreboot attempts to bridge this divide by providing a build system
-automating much of the coreboot image creation and customization.
-Secondly, the project produces documentation aimed at non-technical users.
-Thirdly, the project attempts to provide excellent user support via IRC.
-
-Libreboot already comes with a payload (GRUB), flashprog and other
-needed parts. Everything is fully integrated, in a way where most of
-the complicated steps that are otherwise required, are instead done
-for the user in advance.
-
-You can download ROM images for your libreboot system and install
-them without having to build anything from source. If, however, you are
-interested in building your own image, the build system makes it relatively
-easy to do so.
-
-Not a coreboot fork!
---------------------
-
-Libreboot is *not a fork of coreboot*. Every so often, the project
-re-bases on the latest version of coreboot, with the number of custom
-patches in use minimized. Tested, *stable* (static) releases are then provided
-in Libreboot, based on specific coreboot revisions.
-
-How to help
-===========
+Documentation: [libreboot.org](https://libreboot.org)\
+Support: [\#libreboot](https://web.libera.chat/#libreboot) on
+  [Libera](https://libera.chat/) IRC
+
+Libreboot provides 
+[libre](https://libreboot.org/freedom-status.html)
+boot firmware on
+[supported motherboards](https://libreboot.org/docs/install/#which-systems-are-supported-by-libreboot). It replaces proprietary vendor BIOS/UEFI implementations, by
+* Using coreboot to initialize the hardware (e.g. memory controller, CPU, etc.) while
+  minimizing unwanted functionality (e.g. backdoors such as the Intel Management Engine)
+* ... which runs a payload such as SeaBIOS, GRUB, or U-Boot
+* ... which loads your operating system's boot loader (BSD and Linux-based
+  [systems](systems) are supported).
+
+Why use Libreboot, and what is coreboot?
+----------------------------------------
+
+A lot of users who use libre operating systems still use proprietary boot
+firmware, which often contain backdoors and bugs, hampering
+[user freedom](https://writefreesoftware.org) and
+[right to repair](https://www.eff.org/issues/right-to-repair).
+
+[coreboot](https://coreboot.org) provides libre boot firmware by initializing
+the hardware then running a payload. However, coreboot is notoriously difficult
+to configure and install for most non-technical users, requiring detailed
+technical knowledge of hardware.
+
+Libreboot solves this by being **a coreboot distribution** (in the same way
+that Alpine Linux is a Linux distribution). It provides a fully automated build
+system that downloads and compiles pre-configured ROM images for supported
+motherboards, so end-users could easily fetch images to flash onto their
+devices.
+
+Libreboot also produces documentation aimed at non-technical users and
+excellent user support via IRC.
+
+Contribute
+----------
 
 You can check bugs listed on
 the [bug tracker](https://codeberg.org/libreboot/lbmk/issues).
 
-If you spot a bug and have a fix, the website has instructions for how to send
-patches, and you can also report it. Also, this entire website is
-written in Markdown and hosted in a [separate
-repository](https://codeberg.org/libreboot/lbwww) where you can send patches.
+You may use Codeberg pull requests to send patches with bug fixes or other
+improvements. This repository hosts the code for the main build system.
+The website lives in [a separate repository](https://codeberg.org/libreboot/lbwww).
 
-Any and all development discussion and user support are all done on the IRC
-channel. More information is on <https://libreboot.org/contact.html>.
+Development is also done on the IRC channel.
 
-LICENSE FOR THIS README
-=======================
+License for this README
+-----------------------
 
-It's just a README file. This README file is released under the terms of the
-Creative Commons Zero license, version 1.0 of the license, which you can
-read here:
+It's just a README file. It is released under
+[Creative Commons Zero, version 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/legalcode.txt).
 
-<https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/legalcode.txt>