Re: GNU
Hi,
(i maintain GNU xorriso but do not speak for GNU or FSF)
Cindy-Sue Causey wrote:
> their objection to some of Debian might be easily fixable
The Debian position is that one should help people to install on
hardware of which the manufacturer imposed unsurpassable obstacles
for pure FSF-compliant systems.
Classic is the wireless hardware which you need to connect to the
internet in order to get the bulk of Debian packages. If Debian does
not provide the free-as-in-beer software blobs to drive the hardware,
or if Linux would not offer opportunities to attach such a software
blob, then the laptops in question would be reserved to proprietary
OSes.
It is a matter of policy priorities. So it can only be settled if one
side gives in despite believing to be right - or if the need for
free-beer-only blobs vanishes.
(The model is "free as in free beer" versus "free as in free speech".
The owner may at any time close the beer tap, but nobody is entitled
to forbid the continuation of chatter.)
> if Debian became more stringent in order to get off GNU's
> gnaughty list page there
Not really likely, i'd say.
We will stay on the grey list and will have to feel bad conscience
when making use of Debian's offer to help installing non-free software.
Ubuntu is one step further towards the beer tap. It aims at the
mindset of M$ and iMac users. Things have to "just work".
For that goal they are accused to sell little pieces of their souls.
(Only SteamOS will get a place nearer to the infernal fire.)
> firmware-iwlwifi package [...] remembering feeling really guilty
It's forgiven, now that you confessed publicly.
I hereby confess to still use xv.
Have a nice day :)
Thomas
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