Re: non-DFSG section and CD distributers
On Fri, 14 Nov 1997, Paul J Thompson wrote:
> > if it is completely free with no 'strings' attached then it can go in
> > debian main.
> >
> > if it is free but depends on a non-free program then it can go in
> > contrib (e.g. kde and the netscape installer package).
> >
> > if it is non-free then it may be able to go in the non-free section
> > of debian's ftp archive, depending on whether the license allows that
> > distribution or not (e.g. we can include qt but not netscape).
>
> I understand what they mean. I just disagree with this method as the
> best way to break things up. Not that I am suggesting we change the
> whole thing.
so how would you 'break things up'? by whim or personal preference?
> > Debian is *NOT* opposed to commercial or non-free software. Our
> > focus is on free software but that doesn't make us 'against'
> > non-free programs.
>
> That is the way it looks to the rest of the world. It doesn't matter
> if you make up your own rules and definitions if you don't really
> explain them to the rest of the world.
huh? that's *PRECISELY* what debian's social contract and DFSG are. they
are an explanation to the world of what we mean when we say "free".
Debian's social contract states unequivocally that debian is not against
non-free software.
what part of the following don't you understand?
: 4. Our Priorities are Our Users and Free Software
:
: We will be guided by the needs of our users and the
: free-software community. We will place their interests first
: in our priorities. We will support the needs of our users for
: operation in many different kinds of computing environment. We
: won't object to commercial software that is intended to run on
: Debian systems, and we'll allow others to create value-added
: distributions containing both Debian and commercial software,
: without any fee from us. To support these goals, we will
: provide an integrated system of high-quality, 100% free
: software, with no legal restrictions that would prevent these
: kinds of use.
:
: 5. Programs That Don't Meet Our Free-Software Standards
:
: We acknowledge that some of our users require the use of
: programs that don't conform to the Debian Free Software
: Guidelines. We have created "contrib" and "non-free" areas
: in our FTP archive for this software. The software in these
: directories is not part of the Debian system, although it
: has been configured for use with Debian. We encourage CD
: manufacturers to read the licenses of software packages in
: these directories and determine if they can distribute that
: software on their CDs. Thus, although non-free software
: isn't a part of Debian, we support its use, and we provide
: infrastructure (such as our bug-tracking system and mailing
: lists) for non-free software packages.
> Our definition of free needs revised.
Why? We only came out with it at the end of June this year, after
nearly a month's discussion and revision of the document by the
developers. That's only 4 months ago. What has changed so much in that
short time that we have to go through that process again?
In case you weren't around at the time, or have forgotten, the debian
social contract and free software guidelines were discussed, debated,
modified, and finally passed by a clear majority of the developers.
> _OR_ we need to maybe see what we can do to make it seem less like we
> are passing judgment on the _less_ non-free software. Does that make
> sense?
maybe it's your own value judgements about free and non-free that are
bothering you? you prefer free software but happen to like pine. well,
so do i. i think pine is great. however, it's not free according to the
debian definition of free. if a free alternative which was as good (IMO)
ever came along then i'd probably switch to it immediately.
craig
--
craig sanders
networking consultant Available for casual or contract
temporary autonomous zone system administration tasks.
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