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On Sun, 25 Mar 2007 16:12:48 +0100 "Ben Goodger" <goodgerster@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > Why are Fedora not in the list then!? Especially since I don't > > > believe any of the other distributions are COMPLETELY free, > > > simply aiming towards it. > > > > gNewSense is. > > > But it's Ubuntu-based. > If Ubuntu is so tainted, how can you prove that gNewSense is > completely free? > Indeed, how can you prove that the source packages provided by the > various projects whose work goes into it is completely free? That shouldn't be hard, actually. All packages in Debian main have been audited for licences and copyright issues many times. The only way you GET a non-free Debian/Ubuntu is by *adding* non-free code to it. The point with binary firmware is that it is still necessary to have it available for some pieces of kit (like wireless cards). We didn't need people like SCO to get these audits done, although SCO did focus a few minds on the need to keep on top of the audits. Free software is very easy to audit - it is always on view. There were previously issues within the kernel but those have been addressed too, leaving (mainly) the thorny issue of binary firmware loaded, not into the kernel, into peripherals. Outside the desktop environment, it is common to have fully free software implementations in a server etc. Individual installations can be free - Matt's point is that the upstream repositories make it too easy (in his eyes) to add non-free. I think it's about right in Debian but maybe too easy in Ubuntu. That is a choice that Ubuntu have made for their own reasons - everyone is free to choose where to put their own dividing line. I just want to have a free software wireless card. (The driver is free software but the card needs this pesky firmware). There is a truly massive amount of effort continuously going into Debian and therefore Ubuntu, specifically checking that all source code files for packages in 'main' are genuinely free software. Packages are routinely removed if the freedom is in doubt - e.g. firefox does not exist in Debian main anymore, it had to be renamed Iceweasel in order to remain free. My amd64 workstation is completely free software - my iBook needs binary firmware for the wireless card. -- Neil Williams ============= http://www.data-freedom.org/ http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com/ http://www.linux.codehelp.co.uk/
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