Re: Questions to candidates: what is source?
Seo Sanghyeon <tinuviel@sparcs.kaist.ac.kr> wrote:
> 1. How do you define "source code" yourself?
I believe that source code is anything that allows us to learn how the
software works and modify it to function in different ways. In almost
all cases, the GPL's "preferred form for modification" will be source
code - I think there are cases where something other than the preferred
form for modification can also be considered source.
> 2. I think that people have different ideas of what "source code" means.
> Do you agree? Are there significant disagreements regarding this
> issue within the Debian Project?
There are plainly people who disagree over this issue. I don't know
whether this disagreement is significant.
> 3. (If you answered "yes" to 2) Is that a problem?
It's not a problem in itself that people hold different opinions, but it
sometimes makes it harder for us to work with the rest of the free
software community and it certainly wastes time in argument that could
be better spent.
> 4. (If you answered "yes" to 3) Is it necessary to amend DFSG?
That depends on how much disagreement there is. At the moment, I have no
good feeling for how strongly people feel about the definition of source
code.
> 5. (If you answered "yes" to 4) How it should be amended?
I'm not quite sure what you mean here, but the constitution only allows
one mechanism for changing the DFSG. If you're talking about "What
changes should be made", then I don't know - that depends on what the
majority of people believe.
> 6. Which of the following satisfies DFSG #2? What is the general
> principle? Or should it be case-by-case?
I'm not going to get into a case-by-case discussion, because I don't
believe it to be interesting or relevant. The DPL's opinion in this
matter should carry no more weight than any other developer's. The DPL's
involvement should be to note that there is a lack of consensus over the
issue and work to rectify that, not to argue a specific side of the
debate.
--
Matthew Garrett | mjg59-chiark.mail.debian.vote@srcf.ucam.org
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