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To: debian-policy@lists.debian.org Subject: Re: [PROPOSED] Change package relations policy to remove references to non-free from main From: Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org> Organization: The Debian Project Date: 30 Nov 1999 13:26:43 -0600 Hi, >>"Wichert" == Wichert Akkerman <wichert@cistron.nl> writes: Wichert> Yes and no. It's actually a nice addition to the current sent of Wichert> relations since we had no way for this kind of reverse relation. I agree. Wichert> It's true that for some of the existing relations replacing Wichert> Suggests with Recommends puts the responsibility on the Wichert> wrong package. However a reverse relation is the only way to Wichert> completely remove references to non-main packages from main, Since when has political correctness and quick hacks been favoured over doing things the right way? The correct thing is not to coerce the relationship into what it is not because we have been cowed by the FSF. Wichert> which is what this proposal is all about. It's not all about Wichert> design, there is a political message here as well. We want Wichert> to be able to have a completely free system and be able to Wichert> say "here, you can use this and you'll be happy. You don't Wichert> need anything that's not free at all". If we put weaken Wichert> Suggest or create a new weaker version of it we don't do Wichert> that since we still tell people that there are non-free Wichert> packages that can improve things. For gods, sake, there's your answert. Do not *SHOW* people the non-free package, or ever allude to t in any UI. Have dpkg and dselect and apt not offer non-free package, unless told. That is what you *WNAT* to do. These hacks being proposed here are, IMHO, grotesque. I would strongly oppose any dilution of technical design for the sake of religion. Especially since the only thing preventing us from the right solution seems to be, well, laziness. Why can't we set up our package management system to do the politically correct thing for those who choose to be politically correct without imposing our religion on everyone? manoj -- Established technology tends to persist in the face of new technology. Blaauw, one of the designers of System 360 Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org> <https://www.debian.org/%7Esrivasta/> Key C7261095 fingerprint = CB D9 F4 12 68 07 E4 05 CC 2D 27 12 1D F5 E8 6E
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This issue of Debian Weekly News was edited by Joey Hess.