On Tue, Jun 01, 2004 at 10:33:39AM +1000, Matthew Palmer scribbled: I just can't help myself, sorry [snip] > > > about, there wasn't much else we could do. > > > > How does removing firmware "help" free software? > > Firstly, we're not "removing firmware" we're removing non-free firmware. is it like buttering the bread vs breading the butter? > As far as I'm aware, we haven't removed any DFSG-free material deemed usable > by the maintainer. > > As to how removing non-free firmware helps free software, it helps for many > of the same reasons removing non-free <anything> helps free software. > > 1) It encourages free alternatives to be written. Everytime I see some smartass writing that, I wish they would actually damned code that alternative. Then and ONLY then they have the right to remove anything. > 2) It encourages original vendors to open their source to the community if > they deem it appropriate. prove it - give some examples > 3) It encourages people to support vendors who follow the tenets of free > software, making it a more profitable move to do so. ditto > 4) It increases awareness of free software and it's tenets. or rather creates a notion of closed-minded bunch of loonies who repeat their "free, freee, freeeeee" mantra without looking around themselves and getting down to earth. Yes, I've heard people saying they wouldn't switch to free software precisely because of that reason... They compared the free software community (represented by the "free uber alles" bunch, alas) to a fanatic religious group, yes, a sect. Did you consider that #4 above can be quite the contrary? Did it ever occur to you? > For firmware, (2) is the most pressing reason, with (3) close behind. (1) > is possible, but not as likely as, for, say, a PDF viewer. (4) is, I will > agree, slightly tongue-in-cheek. Matt, I don't know you at all, I can only read what you write and try not to become biased but, please, maybe we should all cut down on meaningless babble like the stuff above and just do the stuff we should do at debian - maintain and create good software? Don't take it personally, what I'm saying is not against you - just taking the opportunity to say (rant, whatever) what has been bugging me for the past few months, regards, marek
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