Re: Bug#353277: ndiswrapper in main
On 21 Feb 2006, Ian Jackson verbalised:
> I hereby propose the following motion and call for a vote.
I vote against the motion outlined below.
manoj
>
> WHEREAS
>
> 1. ndiswrapper's purpose is to allow non-free drivers to be used.
>
> 2. While there may be cases where ndiswrapper can be used
> with a DFSG-free driver, these are exceptional.
>
> 3. The Committee is by and large satisfied with the intent behind
> the
> language in the Policy Manual regarding the distinction between
> non-free and contrib.
>
> 4. The Committee does not wish to overturn or change established
> political policy about the distinction between main and contrib,
> and does not wish to usurp the political authority of the Project
> Leader.
>
> 5. The Committee's reading of the current Policy Manual wording is
> that ndiswrapper falls fairly clearly into the area currently
> defined for `contrib'.
>
> 6. However, the language in the Policy Manual is somewhat unclear
> and
> ambiguous, and by some readings inconsistent.
>
> THE COMMITTEE CONCLUDES THAT
>
> 6. ndiswrapper belongs in contrib.
>
> 7. References to `package outside of main', `packages which are not
> in
> our archive at all', etc., in the relevant part of the Policy
> Manual, should be changed to refer to `programs' or `software'.
>
> 8. The policy manual should be clarified to make it clear that free
> software to talk to non-free software over a network can remain in
> main. In our opinion the relevant principle is that:
>
> (i) If the user or administrator who is in charge of the Debian
> installation would have to adopt non-free software X to make
> sensible use free software Y, then Y goes in contrib.
>
> (ii) However, if free software Y is used by the user or
> administrator of the Debian system to cope to with someone else's
> use of non-free software X on another system not under their
> control, then Y goes in main.
>
> AND THE COMMITTEE THEREFORE REQUESTS AS FOLLOWS
>
> 9. ftpmasters and the ndiswrapper maintainers should cooperate to
> move
> nsidwrapper to contrib. (If the required 3:1 supermajority is
> required, the ftpmasters and ndiswrapper maintainers are hereby
> required to do so.)
>
> 10. The Policy Manual maintainers should take steps to adjust the
> language regarding main and contrib to clarify and improve it. The
> Maintainers should take our opinion in paragraphs 7 and 8 as
> advisory; they should also have regard to opinions from the Leader
> about the correct effect.
>
> Ian.
> [
--
"Part of the inhumanity of the computer is that, once it is
competently programmed and working smoothly, it is completely honest."
-Isaac Asimov
Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org> <http://www.debian.org/%7Esrivasta/>
1024D/BF24424C print 4966 F272 D093 B493 410B 924B 21BA DABB BF24 424C
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