On Wed, Jun 07, 2000 at 09:27:54AM -0500, Keith G. Murphy wrote: > Branden Robinson wrote: > > This resolution will do NOTHING to prevent users from downloading, using, > > compiling from source (if available), modifying, etc. non-free software. > > > > It is a largely technical proposal with some alterations to the Social > > Contract to clear up some muddy language and terminate a compromise that > > was made years ago for pragmatic reasons. > > > Huh? > > "We will support our users who develop and run non-free software on > Debian, but we will neither make the system depend upon nor distribute > an item of non-free software. Debian may continue to distribute > non-free software previously distributed via its FTP site prior to the > woody distribution." > > I read that to mean that no new non-free packages will appear on > Debian's FTP site. For instance, newer versions of NS Communicator will > not be available there as deb's. Not to mention the JDK. Correct. > Either I'm mistaken, or your statement is highly disingenuous. It > *would* effectively prevent me from downloading non-free software in the > way I would like: as debs, from the Debian site, using apt. A false alternative. What is wrong with downloading software, as debs, from some site on the site, using apt? > Speaking as a non-Debian-developer, I think maybe this is all simply > premature, considering NS and JDK in particular. There are probably > others. Couldn't we get the browser and JDK nailed down first? (Pardon > me if I am mistaken about the JDK; I'm going from the remarks of > others). There will always be non-free software. Will there always be a non-free section? Will we always need one? Do we really need one now? Is it possible for users to get their non-free software needs met through non-official-Debian sources while still using the Debian operating system? > If this is put into effect, I really would have to reconsider my choice > of distributions. *Very* regretfully. :-( Well, I would hope you would not make your decision until you had seen and studied the real consequences, instead of the falling-sky scenarios that some opponents of the GR are positing. -- G. Branden Robinson | Debian GNU/Linux | Exercise your freedom of religion. Set branden@ecn.purdue.edu | fire to a church of your choice. roger.ecn.purdue.edu/~branden/ |
Attachment:
pgp29ic55MFM4.pgp
Description: PGP signature