----- "andre999" <[email protected]> wrote:
> ok. > My though was essentially that firmware is so close to hardware that > its > actual free/non-free status shouldn't apply - we should treat it like > > (almost) part of the hardware. I would agree, but some people wouldn't. > As for the drivers, a little more distant from the hardware, they > could > be in non-free, but I sincerely think that they should be on all > installation isos. I wouldn't say "all". > That is, on installing from an iso, all hardware-related functions > should (ideally) be fully functional, even if it requires using > non-free > drivers. IMHO, not without informing the user, so that they have the choice (e.g. to consider replacing the hardware by something supported by free software => supporting vendors who support free software). > The lack of some drivers (or components of drivers) can render a > system > technically functional, but with important dysfunctions, simply > because > the required drivers were not available on installation. > That should not happen. IMHO, that is not *our* choice to make for the user. > The kernel, firmware and drivers, built on the hardware, provide a > platform on which the application software runs. > True, it is better if drivers are open source, but in my view, it is > application software where open source is the most important. But, that is *your* view. IMHO, some of these questions should be posed to the community. For example, maybe we should brand ISO releases as something like "Mageia Libre" and "Mageia Gratis" (note, not a "Mageia" and "Mageia limited" or similar, give equal standing to both releases), where Libre would include no non-free software of any kind on the media, users using Libre would never be prompted about non-free software (without opting in, by e.g. installing a different release package). Gratis would include non-free software/firmware required to enable hardware or specific hardware features. I think it may be worthwhile catering to users who would like to follow FSF Free distribution guidelines as closely as possible, by providing a release that is as close as practically possible to these guidelines (but still making it possible for pragmatic users to have a good experience). Regards, Buchan
