Re: [DRAFT] resolving DFSG violations
- To: Michelle Konzack <linux4michelle@tamay-dogan.net>
- Cc: debian-devel@lists.debian.org
- Subject: Re: [DRAFT] resolving DFSG violations
- From: Gunnar Wolf <gwolf@gwolf.org>
- Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 12:59:53 -0600
- Message-id: <[🔎] 20081103185952.GC24791@cajita.gateway.2wire.net>
- In-reply-to: <20081029231048.GA22339@tamay-dogan.net>
- References: <8763nj6x9x.fsf@anzu.internal.golden-gryphon.com> <20081025043932.GF7291@dario.dodds.net> <873ailmep5.fsf@anzu.internal.golden-gryphon.com> <a79ec2960810250646w18c96dafq665a5e37c666cbc4@mail.gmail.com> <871vy4sl1k.fsf@riesling.zuerich.kuesterei.ch> <a79ec2960810261838g7d01b94ej3e56386136d7afeb@mail.gmail.com> <20081027183558.GE5687@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> <a79ec2960810271226n47055ae7i4564e79cc7674706@mail.gmail.com> <20081028140031.GC5680@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> <20081029231048.GA22339@tamay-dogan.net>
Michelle Konzack dijo [Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 12:10:48AM +0100]:
> Curently I am building a hardware where the parts cost arround 40US$ per
> device (@10.000) and using the same microcontroller with a "big" FLASH
> memory would mke this Hardware arround 5 US$ in final production more
> expensive.
>
> So for the end-users arreound 10 US$ or 8 Euro
>
> Are you willing to pay arround 15-18% more for such hardware?
So probably the end result won't be shipping raw Debian in your
product - As you are not willing to release the firmware, Debian
cannot inlcude it. Yes, even if it is worthless without a $8000
compiler. Who knows? If the device is interesting enough and becomes
highly successful, somebody (i.e. the Debian project?) can decide to
pay $8000 for the compiler license and be able to fix bugs or enhance
your firmware?
> Again: ARE you realy willing to pay at least
> 10US$ or 8€ more for the hardware?
If sharing the source for the firmware is not an option to you, and
raising the price so the device can be self-sufficient without the
computer uploading a firmware to it, then... Well, your device won't
be natively supported by Debian. And that's not necesarily a curse! Of
course I'd like every device on Earth to be Debian-based, but
sometimes reality does not agree with my wishes.
> I mean, the I am trying currently servera hardware models since I need
> highly optimized one (for solar-Energie Systems) and there is nothing in
> production yet. I am 100% free what to do and how I do it...
>
> Since all of my software must run under GNU/Linux and is licensed under
> GNU GPL version 3 I like to see, that my hardware/Software fit the DFSG
> which mean, must run with "main".
Oh, here we have a problem. You are 100% free and want to use GPL3 -
So you are required to distribute the sources, the preferred form of
modification. If not even the input you give to the mighty $8000
compiler qualifies as source, then maybe the schematics you have on
the whiteboard do? You just cannot say "there is no source". That
would imply the firmware is a result of your computer's creativity -
and I'd seriously doubt it.
--
Gunnar Wolf - gwolf@gwolf.org - (+52-55)5623-0154 / 1451-2244
PGP key 1024D/8BB527AF 2001-10-23
Fingerprint: 0C79 D2D1 2C4E 9CE4 5973 F800 D80E F35A 8BB5 27AF
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