As you probably know, Debian has recently chosen a new project leader, Mr. S. Zacchiroli.
Being gNewSense 3 directly based on Debian, I suppose you could be interested in this interview (in Italian: see below...) he has released to www.ossblog.it about Debian and its plans: http://www.ossblog.it/post/6208/intervista-a-stefano-zacchiroli-debian-project-leader-prima-parte http://www.ossblog.it/post/6209/intervista-a-stefano-zacchiroli-debian-project-leader-seconda-parte-da-fare The interview is in Italian and is quite long, so I will try to summarize below (in English - and, please, sorry if it is not so good) the points most interesting and relevant to the gNS3 development and its strict "ethical" approach (releases/freezes frequency, kernel libre, user's freedom etc.). Most of the questions were suggested by ossblog.it readers. Here is the summary (still long, but interesting!): --- [...] Q. (Interviewer) - There has been talk lately of Debian releases every two years: is not it too frequently? Does Ubuntu with its releases every six months could take the place of Debian? Do not you think it is better scheduling some freezes at least for the "unstable" releases? A. (Zacchiroli) - Debian has always published its releaseas only "when ready", ie when no bug is severe enough to make a package unusable or dangerous for users. [...] Scheduling of freezes is instead a more interesting concept, which is not inconsistent with the culture of Debian releases. Scheduling of freezes would make possible for developers to better plan their work and to understand when it is better to introduce potentially disruptive changes and when it is better to postpone. Anyway, the choice of whether or not introduce a scheduling of freezes must be made by the whole community of Debian developers, starting from the release team. Personally I find it an interesting idea to try. Q. (Interviewer) - When will Squeeze? A. (Zacchiroli) - Currently, the team aims to release a freeze in June; releasing from there on only when all the "Release Critical" (RC) bugs will be solved. I think it's reasonable to think that in a couple of months we could do it, but will depend on the collective work of all the people (not only developers but also users who help us by contributing patches for these bugs). [...] Q. (Interviewer) - Does it make sense to continue the battle of a distro like Debian for the "purity" of the software then when we are all "forced" to install plugin from Adobe, Skype, Codec Mp3, and so on? A practical example. One Ubuntu Music Store sells songs in mp3 format that is not installed by default on the project because it is completely free: a small contradiction that the same Shuttleworth has explained with the pragmatism of Canonical. So, are we facing a form of resistance intended to surrender, or a form of revolution still in the cradle? A. (Zacchiroli) - Debian will never have this problem for the simple fact that needs no gain [...]. Regarding the proposed comparison: yes, we are faced with a form of resistance, but that is absolutely not capitulating, indeed. [...] It is certainly hard to see where the balance is positioned, but my feeling is that the software around me is ever more free, although progress is slow. Q. (Interviewer) - Debian will encounter sooner or later the "commercial compromise"? A. Never! Are the distributions such as Debian -and not those that easily bend to the "commercial compromise"- which are increasingly contributing to free software and to give users more freedom. [...] Q. (Interviewer) - Will Debian continue using as default a Linux kernel that integrates binary blobs and other non-free software, or do you think it should adopt a completely free kernel such as that of the Linux-libre project? [Note: This is a question I suggested to the ossblog.it Interviewer... ;-) ] A. (Zacchiroli) - Debian kernel developers have worked over the years to separate the non-free firmware from the rest of the Linux kernel. It was a long job which forced us to compromise for a couple of releases. Today I am proud to say that the problem, starting from the next release of Debian Squeeze is solved (except bugs, of course, which are always possible!). The free firmware part of Linux is now included in Debian and resides in the "firmware-linux-free" package; this firmware is 100% compatible with the Debian Free Software Guidelines. The non-free firmware is not part of Debian, although it is hosted on our mirrors for those who wish to use it; its containing package is "firmware-linux-nonfree". Many people have protested for the compromises that indeed our developers have done in the past but, meanwhile, they have never stopped working towards the goal of separating the free firmware from the non-free. [...] Q. (Interviewer) - Compromises are needed to avoid that Linux remains reserved for the few? A. (Zacchiroli) - Maybe yes, maybe no, I can not predict the future. Surely if someone is ready to compromise with non-free software, then it is useful that there is someone who is *not*, to show the right direction and to remind everyone its importance. --- regards al3xu5 / dotcommon -- Support free software! Join FSF: http://www.fsf.org/jf?referrer=7535 ______________________________________________________________________ Public GPG/PGP key block ID: 1024D/11C70137 Fingerprint: 60F1 B550 3A95 7901 F410 D484 82E7 5377 11C7 0137 Key download: http://bitfreedom.noblogs.org/gallery/5721/dotcommon.asc [ Please, do not send my key to any keyserver! ]
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