Fedora 20, the newest version of the Linux-based operating system affiliated with Red Hat (RHT), has been out only for a few weeks. But it is already creating challenges for Linux users with AMD graphics hardware, which is not supported in some cases on the new release. It’s a reminder of the way that dependence on proprietary device drivers can drastically hinder open source adoption.
The problem involves the Linux version of the closed source Catalyst driver for AMD video cards. It was available as an easy-to-install package for previous Fedora releases, but because the volunteer who had been building the packages is no longer doing so—as he or she announced on a support forum—and no one else has taken on the role, a driver package for Fedora 20 does not exist.