Re: Bug#353277: ndiswrapper in main
Here is a version of Anthony's `put it in main' resolution made into a
suggestion rather than an instruction. Below you'll find a diff for
your comfort and convenience.
WHEREAS
1. The committee has been asked by Robert Millan, the submitter of
Bug#353278 and a former developer, to overrule the decision by the
maintainer of the ndiswrapper package, Andres Salomon, to include
that package in the main component of the archive, and for it to be
moved to the contrib component; and
2. This question is a mixture of political and technical questions
and the Committee's power to decide it is unclear; however, in the
absence of a decision by the committee it is likely that no
decision at all will be made.
3. The purpose of the ndiswrapper package is to provide an ABI layer
on top of the Linux kernel that is compatible with the interface for
Windows NDIS drivers, and that in order to provide this compatability
layer, no non-free software is required; and
4. The primary use for this compatability layer is to run non-free
Windows drivers for hardware not directly supported by Linux, though
a very limited number of free drivers using the NDIS format also
exist; and
5. The policy in this matter states that: (debian-policy
3.6.2.2, section 2.2.1)
[...] packages in _main_
* must not require a package outside of _main_ for compilation or
execution
and: (debian-policy 3.6.2.2, section 2.2.2)
Examples of packages which would be included in _contrib_ are:
* free packages which require _contrib_, _non-free_ packages or
packages which are not in our archive at all for compilation or
execution, and
* wrapper packages or other sorts of free accessories for non-free
programs.
THE COMMITTEE CONCLUDES THAT
6. It is appropriate for the committee to consider this request
but not by itself to overturn established political policy; and
7. The current ndiswrapper package does not require any non-free
software at either compilation time or installation time to fulfill
its designated purpose; and
8. As such the committee believes the ndiswrapper package complies
with current policy as regards to its suitability for main; and
9. If the ndiswrapper package comes to depend on non-free software at
compilation time or installation time, such as by prompting the user
for a Windows driver CD, at that time the ndiswrapper package would
be required to be moved to contrib.
IN ADDITION
10. The committee notes its approval of the decisions of the
maintainer of ndiswrapper and the ftpmaster team in including the
package in the main component as being in compliance with current
Debian policy; and
11. The committee notes its approval of the existing policy on the
suitability of packages for the main and contrib components; and
12. The committee offers its thanks to Robert Millan for raising the
issue; to Wouter Verhelst and others for their input on the topic;
and to Andres Salomon for his ongoing efforts in maintaining the
ndiswrapper packages.
13. The committee believes this is not a wholly technical issue, and
that the general policy decisions in question are largely
political, so this does not fall into our explicit remit. This
decision is therefore advisory. However, we recommend that all
parties concerned follow our advice unless and until a contrary
statement is issued by the Project Leader or an appropriate
Delegate.
Ian.
--- 1 2006-03-08 00:33:30.000000000 +0000
+++ 2 2006-03-08 00:33:01.000000000 +0000
@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@
that package in the main component of the archive, and for it to be
moved to the contrib component; and
-2. The committee is empowered under section 6.1(4) of the constitution to
- overrule a maintainer by a 3:1 majority vote, and empowered under section
- 6.1(1) to decide on any matter of technical policy; and
+2. This question is a mixture of political and technical questions
+ and the Committee's power to decide it is unclear; however, in the
+ absence of a decision by the committee it is likely that no
+ decision at all will be made.
3. The purpose of the ndiswrapper package is to provide an ABI layer
on top of the Linux kernel that is compatible with the interface for
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@
a very limited number of free drivers using the NDIS format also
exist; and
-5. The technical policy in this matter states that: (debian-policy
+5. The policy in this matter states that: (debian-policy
3.6.2.2, section 2.2.1)
[...] packages in _main_
@@ -38,30 +39,40 @@
THE COMMITTEE CONCLUDES THAT
-6. It is appropriate for the committee to consider this request; and
+6. It is appropriate for the committee to consider this request
+ but not by itself to overturn established political policy; and
7. The current ndiswrapper package does not require any non-free
software at either compilation time or installation time to fulfill
its designated purpose; and
-8. As such the ndiswrapper package complies with current technical
- policy as regards to its suitability for main; and
+8. As such the committee believes the ndiswrapper package complies
+ with current policy as regards to its suitability for main; and
-9. If the ndiswrapper package come to depend on non-free software at
+9. If the ndiswrapper package comes to depend on non-free software at
compilation time or installation time, such as by prompting the user
for a Windows driver CD, at that time the ndiswrapper package would
be required to be moved to contrib.
IN ADDITION
-10. The committee endorses the decisions of the maintainer of ndiswrapper
- and the ftpmaster team in including the package in the main component
- as being in compliance with Debian technical policy; and
+10. The committee notes its approval of the decisions of the
+ maintainer of ndiswrapper and the ftpmaster team in including the
+ package in the main component as being in compliance with current
+ Debian policy; and
-11. The committee endorses the existing policy on the suitability of packages
- for the main and contrib components; and
+11. The committee notes its approval of the existing policy on the
+ suitability of packages for the main and contrib components; and
12. The committee offers its thanks to Robert Millan for raising the
issue; to Wouter Verhelst and others for their input on the topic;
and to Andres Salomon for his ongoing efforts in maintaining the
ndiswrapper packages.
+
+13. The committee believes this is not a wholly technical issue, and
+ that the general policy decisions in question are largely
+ political, so this does not fall into our explicit remit. This
+ decision is therefore advisory. However, we recommend that all
+ parties concerned follow our advice unless and until a contrary
+ statement is issued by the Project Leader or an appropriate
+ Delegate.
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