Re: non-free/contrib policy

[Bill Mitchell <mitchell@mozcom.com>]

On Fri, 18 Jul 1997, Christian Schwarz wrote:

> Please have a look at the new version and tell me and hints how to make it
> clearer. The separation of the distributions is very important for Debian
> and everyone should be able to understand the rules!

I'm a bit concerned that it's not a straightforward process to
determine where a package goes.  One cannot find, for example,
whether a package goes in main simply by looking at the section
describing the main distribution (it might be shareware, for
example, and it's necessary to read the section on the contrib
distribution to find that shareware is excluded from main.

I think it would be a lot clearer if the sections said something
like the following,  I took this from your dicument and rearranged
it a bit.  I think it says the same thing yours does, but it
might be a bit clearer.  (It's still pretty convoluted)

   2.1.1. The main distribution
  
    This distribution is the official Debian distribution.
  
    Packages may be placed in the main distribution only if
    they comply with _all_ of the following requirements:
  
    The package must allow distribution of the binary package
    via our FTP master server and its mirrors. The license may
    not require a royalty or other fee for such distribution.
    (Packages not meeting this requirement may not be placed
    on any Debian FTP site or mirror)

    { requote the DFSG here, indicating that packages which
      violate only section 2 should go into contrib, and 
      packages which violate any other section or sections
      must go into non-free  }
  
    In addition, packages which fall into any of the following
    categories must be excluded from the main distribution:
  
    * distribution of the package from inside the U.S. would
      violate U.S. export restrictions against the export of
      cryptographic software.  (must go in non-us)
  
    * the source code which may be distributed is not the
      complete source code required to compile the program (i.e., the
      program cannot be compiled using only packages in the main
      Debian distribution)  (should go into contrib)
  
    * the package includes components which depend for their use
      on other packages not in the main distribution.  (this
      includes all packages which declare a dependency on a non-us,
      non-free, or contrib package, and almost all packages which
      declare a recommendation) (should go into contrib)
  
    * the package allows free use only for a trial period (shareware)
      (should go in contrib)
  
    * the package provides only demonstration programs lacking vital
      functionality (crippleware) (should go into contrib)
  
    * the package is only an installer-package, used to install
      other, separately provided, files (should go into contrib)
  
    * the package contains buggy and no longer maintained software
      (possibly preserved for backwards compatability) (should go into
      contrib)
      
    Finally, it is possible that policy questions might arise over
    a particular package concerning issues not addressed above.
    In this event, packages may be excluded from the main distribution
    (and either redirected to either contrib or non-free, or excluded
    altogether) as the result of policy decisions made on an individual
    package basis.

   2.1.2. The non-us distribution
    (what you say here is fine, I think)
  
   2.1.3. The contrib distribution
    
    The contrib distribution contains packages which have been
    exdcluded from the main distribution because of certain policy
    reasons.  Criteria for excluding packages from the main distribution
    and placing them in the contrib distribution instead are described
    in section 2.1.1 above.
  
   2.1.4. The non-free distribution
  
    The non-free distribution contains packages which have been
    exdcluded from the main distribution because of the package
    violates key requirements of the Debian Free Software Guidelines.
    Criteria for excluding packages from the main distribution
    and placing them in the non-free distribution instead are described
    in section 2.1.1 above.

In case you haven't noticed, I renumbered the sections, putting
main at the start and non-free at the end.  I think this makes
more sense than having non-free in the middle and contrib at
the end.



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