An appeal to d-i devs for software freedom
Dear debian-installer developers,
I feel the need to begin this message by stating what it is NOT. This message is
NOT meant to contest the decision to include non-free firmware in the installer.
This post concerns UI.
Primary proposal: that the priority of the question concerning non-free-firmware
in the installer be changed from "low" to "high".
The current situation is that debian.org proudly states "Debian is a complete
Free Operating System!" with a big Download link. That link then serves the user
an installer of Debian+proprietary firmware. That installer then proceeds to
install the proprietary firmware **without prompting.** Many of us do not find
this acceptable.
However, I was able to confirm in IRC that the installer in fact already has the
ability to prompt about non-free firmware (the repository, wholesale), if only
the user chose to "expertly" configure their system.
User "cheapie" on IRC reports that he "keeps running into users over and over
again who seem to /not/ want firmware packages installed," and because of that,
"would personally prefer for the priority to be high."
Other users are also puzzled why Debian /seems/ to have decided to only allow
rejecting the non-free components via the even more expert, hardly documented,
boot flag mechanism.
I suggest that it is not an "expert" decision to choose freedom. The user
downloaded what loudly purports to be Free Software, so they ought to be offered
a choice to get that. Furthermore, it's just the right thing to do, for their
freedom's sake.
Please increase the priority, from "low" to "high", of the the non-free-firmware
installer question.
---
Secondary proposal: improve the description of the non-free-firmware question.
Currently it is worded thusly:
> Some non-free firmware has been made to work with Debian. Though this firmware
> is not at all a part of Debian, standard Debian tools can be used to install
> it. This firmware has varying licenses which may prevent you from using,
> modifying, or sharing it.
> Please choose whether you want to have it available anyway.
> Use non-free firmware?
I suggest the following wording:
> Some computer parts require that users install programs on them in order to
> function fully or at all. For example, some Wi-Fi cards and audio chipsets may
> not function without them. This type of program is called "firmware".
> Although not at all part of Debian, some non-free firmware has been made to
> work with Debian. This firmware has varying licenses which restrict your
> freedoms to use, modify, or share the software, and generally does not have
> source forms that you may study.
> Please choose whether you want to have it available anyway, and automatically
> installed according to your hardware.
> Use non-free firmware?
It is important for users to understand the purpose of firmware, and the
concequence of selecting "Yes", to make an informed decision.
---
This letter is primarily concerned with the simple changes above, but I would
like to document a good, relevant suggestion from IRC: to give a summary of the
non-free programs, and a way to customize the list, so that, for example, I may
consent to CPU microcode, but refuse to use the on-board network card. We
understand, however, that this is a much more involved change.
Kind regards,
Russell Hernandez Ruiz
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