[Gloucs] vrms

[Andrew M.A. Cater]

On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 09:57:37PM +0100, Geoff Bagley wrote:
> Thanks Andrew.
> 
> It is a bit academic at that level.  The motherboard of the computer 
> might have a "non-free"  BIOS.
> 

Correct: that doesn't stop you wanting a free BIOS or using a free 
equivalent e.g. LinuxBIOS/Coreboot, UBoot or Sun's OpenPROM.

> The idea that a contrib package might collect a commercial package is 
> also a bit doubtful.  A perfectly
> clean  Debian main program or desktop could do the same.
> 

Just to clarify: a Debian main program is not intended to rely on 
contrib or non-free. By contrast, a contrib program, by definition, 
needs non-free to make it useful. E.g.

Intel Wifi firmware is freely downloadable from 
Intel, is no longer subject to a licence agreement that needs to be 
agreed to - and can be placed on a Debian box to "enable" 
functionality of the WiFi chipset and, essentially, make the WiFi work. 

Intel's wrapper round that and thus the chunk of the device driver 
that is in the kernel is free software: the firmware isn't. 

The firmware would need a contrib package to download it.

> I note that RMS no longer includes Debian in his list of "pure" distros.
> 

GNewsense is derived from Ubuntu and also Debian - both "non-free". rms' 
issues are that Debian recommends non-free software and, potentially, 
distributes it. There are discussions even as I type about Debian 
setting up a separate "non-free.org".

> Best regards,
> 
> Geoff.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Andrew M.A. Cater wrote:
> > On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 01:00:00PM +0100, Geoff Bagley wrote:
> >   
> >> I just tried out "vrms" ,  and found that Mr. RMS would be proud of me !
> >>
> >> I have no contrib or non-free  packages installed on my Debian Lenny.
> >>
> >> The non-free packages I can understand,
> >>
> >> What might be the issue with "contrib " ?
> >>
> >>     
> >
> > Debian contrib may be totally DFSG in itself but may be dependent on a 
> > non-free package, recommend a non-free package or even _install_ a 
> > non-free package.
> >
> > Something like - an Amiga emulator which relies on non-free ROMS, an 
> > installer for a Bulgarian dictionary or the fwcutter and bcm 
> > "installers" which pull out non-free firmware for WiFi cards.
> >
> > That sort of thing from a very cursory glimpse.
> >
> >   
> >> Surely they could, in principle, be completely free from proprietary  
> >> contamination ?
> >>
> >> Geoff
> >>     
> >
> > Does that help explain the sorts of things that contrib is?
> >
> > AndyC
> >
> >   
> >>
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