Introduction

The Librem 5 is a smartphone built using free software components with a focus on user privacy. Key features include:

• Based on PureOS, a Debian derivative operating system.
• Runs a modern, supported Linux kernel.
• Separates the CPU from baseband components for additional privacy.
• Provides hardware kill switches for microphone, camera and radio components.

This documentation aims to provide information needed by developers who want to create applications to run on the Librem 5. It also contains information for those interested in the underlying software platform and hardware, as well as developers of alternative software platforms who wish to deploy those on the phone.

See the Software Reference chapter for information about the software components that are supplied with the phone. See the Hardware Reference chapter for details of the hardware used in the phone.

• Document Conventions
  • Style
  • Distributions and Versions
• Ethical Design
  • What is Ethical Design?
• Symbiotic Apps
  • Apps on existing platforms compete for your attention
  • Envisioning a harmonious app ecosystem
  • The Purpose is the Feature
  • Advantages
  • Data belongs to the user, not the application
• History of the Librem 5