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Any comments on this proposed change? --- standards.texi.~1.268.~ 2020-08-23 18:00:28.687283760 -0400 +++ standards.texi 2021-07-23 12:58:59.832493654 -0400 @@ -2935,18 +2935,33 @@ versions. For a GNU program, this kind of portability is desirable, but not paramount. -The primary purpose of GNU software is to run on top of the GNU kernel, -compiled with the GNU C compiler, on various types of CPU@. So the -kinds of portability that are absolutely necessary are quite limited. -But it is important to support Linux-based GNU systems, since they -are the form of GNU that is popular. - -Beyond that, it is good to support the other free operating systems -(*BSD), and it is nice to support other Unix-like systems if you want -to. Supporting a variety of Unix-like systems is desirable, although -not paramount. It is usually not too hard, so you may as well do it. -But you don't have to consider it an obligation, if it does turn out to -be hard. +The primary purpose of GNU software is to run as part of the GNU +operating system, compiled with GNU compilers, on various types of +hardware. So the kinds of portability that are absolutely necessary +are quite limited. It is important to support Linux-based GNU +systems, since they are the form of GNU that people mainly use. + +Making a GNU program operate on operating systems other than the GNU +system is not part of the core goal of developing a GNU package. You +don't ever have to do that. However, users will ask you to do that, +and cooperating with those requests is useful---as long as you don't +let it run away with the project. + +It is good to support the other free or nearly free operating systems +(for instance, *BSD). Supporting a variety of Unix-like systems is +desirable, although not paramount. It is usually not too hard, so you +may as well do it. But you don't have to consider it an obligation, +if it does turn out to be hard. + +For the most part it is good to port the program to more platforms, +but you should not let take up so much of your time that it hinders +you from improving the program in more central ways. If it starts to +do that, please tell users that you don't want to spend any more +time on this---someone else must write that code, debug it, document +it, etc., and then you can install it. + +You can reject porting patches for technical reasons too, as with any +other patch that users submit. It is up to you. @pindex autoconf The easiest way to achieve portability to most Unix-like systems is to -- Dr Richard Stallman (https://stallman.org) Chief GNUisance of the GNU Project (https://gnu.org) Founder, Free Software Foundation (https://fsf.org) Internet Hall-of-Famer (https://internethalloffame.org)
