Re: Bug#285518: misdn-utils includes a firmware loader
On Fri, Dec 17, 2004 at 09:39:46AM +0000, Matthew Garrett wrote:
> Glenn Maynard <glenn@zewt.org> wrote:
> > On Fri, Dec 17, 2004 at 02:37:45AM +0000, Matthew Garrett wrote:
> >> Glenn Maynard <glenn@zewt.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> > No, there's a very concrete reason: given an installation of Debian
> >> > main, the driver works. Drivers that require non-free firmware don't
> >> > work out of the box;
> >>
> >> The vast, vast majority of drivers require non-free firmware.
> >
> > Hmm. A few places to draw the "dependency from driver to firmware"
> > line seem to be:
>
> No, that's not what you said. There's some room to quibble over whether
> a dependency exists - there's no room to quibble over whether a
> requirement exists. Almost all modern hardware either contains firmware
> or requires firmware to be uploaded. Therefore, almost all drivers
> require firmware, since otherwise the hardware they drive would not
> exist.
>
> Please, let's be honest about what requirements software has.
Sorry, but I don't see a distinction between the word "depend" and
"require" in this context, and I don't see any reason to draw one.
I see a clear difference between a driver that needs (expects, requires,
depends on, you pick) its own copy of a firmware to be copied around--
subjecting users and developers to its copyright restrictions, and
imposing a limitation on the ability of that driver to work out of the
box--and one that does not.
--
Glenn Maynard
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