On Tue, Aug 17, 2021 at 05:02:00PM +, mu...@disroot.org wrote:
> Wouldn't it be necessary to update this document then?
>
> "The main archive area forms the Debian distribution.
>
> Packages
> in the other archive areas (contrib, non-free) are not considered to be
> part of the Debian distribution, although we support their use and
> provide infrastructure for them (such as our bug-tracking system and
> mailing lists). This Debian Policy Manual applies to these packages as
> well."
>
> https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-archive.html
>
> 16 de agosto de 2021 19:48, "David Wright"
> escreveu:
>
> > On Sun 15 Aug 2021 at 22:07:27 (+), Ramon Mulin wrote:
> >
> >> The DVD-1 image is coming with contrib enabled on the cd-rom,
> >> security and update lines. This is normal?
> >
> > AIUI the selection of software on DVD-1 is designed to give as
> > comprehensive a collection as possible, based partly on popularity,
> > so that the occasions on which DVD-2, 3… need to be mounted are
> > minimised. As many people will wish to install some non-free
> > software (which can't be included), there are packages from contrib
> > (dependencies of non-free) which make the grade for inclusion
> > on DVD-1.
> >
> >> The netinstall image is just with main.
> >
> > In contrast, the netinst image has been pruned to a minimal set of
> > packages that are able just to install a system, which can then,
> > in turn, install anything and everything else from the internet.
> >
> > Unsurprisingly, just installing a Debian system can be achieved
> > using only Debian software, ie from main. During the installation,
> > you can add non-free (pulls in contrib) to your own list of sources.
> >
> > However, because so many people run machines having hardware devices
> > that require non-free firmware blobs /before/ any initial installation
> > step, (mainly laptops being installed over WiFi), the website also
> > offers unofficial netinst images which include collections of such
> > firmware. AFAICT there are no packages from contrib required, because
> > each (free) device driver already includes the ability to load its
> > own non-free firmware blob.
> >
> >> P.S.: Sorry for my english.
> >
> > It's fine.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > David.
>
Hi Ramon,
You've been pointed at the policy page: as far as I can see the policy is
clear.
Everything in main is fully free software. It satisfies all elements of
the Debian Free Software Guidelines and Debian Social Contract.
It is *the* Debian distribution.
Contrib is much smaller. This is a section which is either built with
non-free software or depends on non-free software to run/be useful.
So, for example, [from memory and I might have the wrong package name]
it may be dosemu was either dependent on a non-free commercial C compiler -
Watcom C - or maybe some Microsoft code [for reading FAT for disks).
bw43-fwcutter is a script to extract the binary that makes some Broadcom WiFi
chipsets work. The binary has no permission to distribute but if you have the
hardware, you are entitled to use it, and you can get it from Broadcom's web
site. It may be a Windows package - the fwcutter script extracts just the
binary you need. It's DFSG-free software to extract a non-free binary.
Then there's wrappers round proprietary games: if you have the games, you
can run the games but Debian can't distribute the binaries / games data sets.
Contrib is *not* part of the Debian main distribution but it's all free
software which Debian can distribute.
If so, as David has outlined, inclusion on a DVD is not particularly
problematic. The lists of packages to make up each DVD are based on relative
popularities of each package so contrib packages slipped in.
No one is making you install contrib software which may be available.
I hope this makes it slightly clearer?
All the very best, as ever,
Andy Cater
