postmarketOS defines new 'main' category for mainline mobile Linux devices
postmarketOS is introducing strict requirements for a new 'main' device category to ensure high-quality, fully mainline mobile Linux support.
Summary
The postmarketOS project has announced a re-evaluation of its device categorization, specifically defining a new 'main' category for devices intended for daily use. To qualify, devices must meet strict technical standards including UEFI booting, use of upstream kernels with minimal patching, and support for essential features like calls, SMS, and Wi-Fi. The initiative also requires dedicated maintainer teams of at least five people to ensure long-term stability and hardware CI integration.
Requirements for the 'main' category
- Booting: Must support UEFI (e.g., via a second-stage bootloader).
- Kernel: Must use upstream kernels with a strict, minimal patching policy.
- Packages: Must avoid dependencies on forked, device-specific packages (e.g., alsa-ucm-conf) and use generic architecture packages.
- Features: Must support core telephony functions: calls, SMS, mobile data, Wi-Fi, audio, battery charging, Bluetooth, and camera.
- Maintainership: Requires a team of at least 5 people, with a majority being part of the Nura team.
- Initial Candidates: Fairphone 5, Motorola Edge 30, and Radxa Dragon Q6A.
Why it matters
By enforcing mainline standards and dedicated maintainership, postmarketOS aims to make mobile Linux distributions as reliable and easy to update as mainstream mobile OSs.
Original reference: postmarketos.org →