Bug#902981: Font Awesome v5 in Debian

[Bastian Germann <bage@debian.org>]

X-Debbugs-Cc: sebastic@xs4all.nl

On Thu, 27 Sep 2018 17:31:55 -0400 Alexandre Viau <aviau@debian.org> wrote:
> For software to be considered to be included in Debian, it must be free 
> software. We try to evaluate whether or not something is free software 
> by using the Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG)[1].
>
> Font Awesome matches the DFSG on all points except one:
>
>  > The program must include source code, and must allow distribution in 
> source code as well as compiled form.
>
> Font Awesome v5 is only available in compiled form, without the build 
> tool. This makes it incompatible with our definition of Free Software.
>
> To help explain our definition of source code, we often refer to "All 
> sources in their preferred form of modification".
>
> For example, minified JavaScript would fail that definition, even if it 
> could technically be considered as modifiable code.
>
> Is there something that could be done so that Font-Awesome v5 can match 
> this interpretation of what is free software?
>
> 1. https://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines

When you search Debian it turns out, Font Awesome 5 is around in A LOT of packages.
A good starting point is https://lintian.debian.org/tags/font-in-non-font-package.
It will take a lot of effort to get it out. I have started at #1025000.

I agree with Alexandre here but there seem to be people that ignore this sentiment
as you can see at #1027982. How would we go about it?