On Mon, 2010-08-30 at 12:05 -0400, CJ Fearnley wrote:
> On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 10:38:14AM -0700, Russ Allbery wrote:
> > CJ Fearnley <cjf@CJFearnley.com> writes:
> >
> > > 2.2.1 The main archive area
> >
> > The main archive area comprises the Debian GNU/Linux distribution;
> > only the packages in this area are considered part of the
> > distribution. None of the packages in the main archive area require
> > software outside of that area to function.
>
> OK, how about this suggestion for a conclusion to Russ' text on the main
> archive area:
>
> Everyone (from end users to redistributors to derivatives) can
> be confident that they can use, share, modify and redistribute
> the software in the Debian main archive area freely<footnote>See
> http://www.debian.org/intro/free for more about what we mean by free
> software.</footnote>.
It sounds a little "My little pony"-ish to me, but it's harmless enough.
I think including a definition of 'Everyone" in brackets potentially
reduces the meaning of the word rather than enhances it. In some future
time will someone say "I'm not an end user, redistributor or derivative
(deriver?) of Debian: am I part of 'Everyone'?".
I'd prefer even more succinct brevity, along the lines of:
Anyone may use, share, modify and redistribute the packages in
the 'main' archive area freely<footnote>See
http://www.debian.org/intro/free for more about what we mean by
free software.</footnote>.
software -> packages, since not everything in 'main' is software.
main -> 'main' to make it clearer that it is a proper noun
as capitalising it would not work.
Other minor wording changes because it felt better to me that way, but
I'm not wedded to them.
Cheers,
Andrew.
>
> > and then going on to the language already there, which already requires
> > that all the packages comply with the DFSG.
> >
> > > 2.2.2 The contrib archive area
> >
> > The contrib archive area contains supplemental packages intended to
> > work with the Debian GNU/Linux distribution, but which require
> > software outside of the distribution to either build or function.
> > Apart from this requirement, all software in the contrib archive area
> > complies with the DFSG and with the policy requirements in this
> > manual.
> >
> > > 2.2.3 The non-free archive area
> >
> > The non-free archive area contains supplemental packages intended to
> > work with the Debian GNU/Linux distribution that do not comply with
> > the DFSG or have other problems that make their distribution
> > problematic. They may not comply with all of the policy requirements
> > in this manual due to restrictions on modifications or other
> > limitations.
> >
> > I don't think any of the above changes anything normative, so once we
> > reach consensus on the wording I can go ahead and apply this.
>
> --
> We are on a spaceship; a beautiful one. It took billions of years to develop.
> We're not going to get another. Now, how do we make this spaceship work?
> -- Buckminster Fuller
>
> CJ Fearnley | Explorer in Universe
> cjf@CJFearnley.com | "Dare to be Naive" -- Bucky Fuller
> http://www.CJFearnley.com | http://blog.remoteresponder.net/
>
>
>
--
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andrew (AT) morphoss (DOT) com +64(272)DEBIAN
Never be led astray onto the path of virtue.
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