Re: Bug#285518: misdn-utils includes a firmware loader

[Matthew Garrett <mgarrett@chiark.greenend.org.uk>]

Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org> wrote:

> 	Well, if you need the non-free component to be on the file
>  system, why is this different from contrib?  Why can't say of
>  everything in contrib that well, if the non-free jvm were to
>  magically appear on the file system this java code would work? Or any
>  other non-free stuff that needs to be on the fs?

The requirement for the non-free component exists, even if it isn't on
the filesystem. What philosophical benefit is there to distinguishing
between non-free code in a chip on a device and non-free code that
exists on the filesystem but is executed on that device? How is the
cause of free software advanced? How is the experience of our users
improved?

-- 
Matthew Garrett | mjg59-chiark.mail.debian.devel@srcf.ucam.org