Re: Spam message when using CVS for webpages
> On Thu, Oct 19, 2023 at 10:57 AM Ineiev wrote: > > > > In contrast, sv_membersh is distributed under the AGPL; now, > > the AGPL does include the same provisions, but also adds Section 13 > > requiring that our modified version prominently offer all users > > interacting with it remotely an opportunity to receive > > the corresponding source of our version; and AGPL Section 13 has > > nothing like "you needn't make it do so if it doesn't." Also, if sv_membersh is copyrighted to the FSF a simple solution would be relicensing it to avoid this requirement.
Re: Spam message when using CVS for webpages
On Thu, Oct 19, 2023 at 10:57 AM Ineiev wrote: > > In contrast, sv_membersh is distributed under the AGPL; now, > the AGPL does include the same provisions, but also adds Section 13 > requiring that our modified version prominently offer all users > interacting with it remotely an opportunity to receive > the corresponding source of our version; and AGPL Section 13 has > nothing like "you needn't make it do so if it doesn't." I proposed that the program could offer the source via some kind of messaging service on the Savannah web portal that users would be guaranteed to be aware of and have access to, in order to satisfy the AGPL requirements. There could be an entry in the side menu like "Automatic notices" along with the number of unread notices. sv_membersh together with what helper scripts or programs are providing the notifications would be considered a single unit that is providing its notifications in accordance with the AGPL.
Re: Spam message when using CVS for webpages
On Wed, Oct 18, 2023 at 03:32:44PM +, Ineiev wrote: > On Wed, Oct 18, 2023 at 03:46:55PM +0100, Gavin Smith wrote: > > I am trying to update a project's webpages after a new release, but > > every time I issue a cvs command the message is printed: > > > > > sv_membersh is part of Savane. > > > In order to download the corresponding source code of Savane, run > > > > > > rsync -avz --cvs-exclude ga...@cvs.savannah.nongnu.org:/opt/src/savane . > > > > I don't know what sv_membersh or Savane is or why I should care. > > Savane is the free software hosting system savannah.gnu.org runs. > > sv_membersh is the restricted shell used as the login shell for Savane users > when they connect via SSH. > > Savane released under the AGPL; offering the corresponding source code > is a requirement of the AGPL. > > Do you think the message should elaborate on these points? I don't know; if it is truly a requirement of the AGPL then it could be more clear that this is why the message is being printed. It looks too much like an error message. Maybe it could be prefixed with "Affero GPL notice: "? I had never chosen to run "sv_membersh" - the command I was running was "cvs". The fact that messages are being printed with details about internal workings make it look like something is broken. Even if it uses SSH internally, I am not really thinking about SSH when I run cvs. Perhaps the message could also contain clear instructions on how to turn it off, too. > The problem is, we don't deploy the exactly same version for all > Savannah hosts at once, we update them one by one, so you hardly > would be able to tell which Git commit corresponds to software > running on the particular host; this feature makes sure the users > can download the right version. Could you put instructions on the Savannah web portal for checking versions of software and getting corresponding source code for different hosts, which users could refer to instead of sending them the message? I am not familiar with the Affero GPL but I looked at section 13 "Remote Network Interaction") (at https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.en.html). "... your modified version must prominently offer all users interacting with it remotely through a computer network (if your version supports such interaction) an opportunity to receive the Corresponding Source of your version" I don't know if I really could have been said to be "interacting" with sv_membersh. It was running as a back-end service for one-off commands that I was running from the command line. Another suggestion is to ensure that anybody running these command line commands also has access to the Savannah web portal. Then the "offer" could be provided through the web portal, rather than by printing output to the terminal. > > Can this unnecessary and annoying message please be removed? > > You can disable that message in your Savannah account configuration > (the 'Quiet SSH member shell' checkbox). Thanks, I will do that.
Re: Spam message when using CVS for webpages
On Wed, Oct 18, 2023 at 09:56:17AM -0500, Corwin Brust wrote: > Thanks for raising this issue. FWIW it has also been brought up by > others. We are planning on discussing with FSF today, at the regular > "volunteers" meeting, where most weeks svh and fsf sysop staff connect. > > We'll update you assuming this topic does get discussed and there is some > conclusion to share (or when there is). > > Kind regards, > Corwin That's good to hear! Thank you for your quick response.
Spam message when using CVS for webpages
I am trying to update a project's webpages after a new release, but every time I issue a cvs command the message is printed: > sv_membersh is part of Savane. > In order to download the corresponding source code of Savane, run > > rsync -avz --cvs-exclude ga...@cvs.savannah.nongnu.org:/opt/src/savane . I don't know what sv_membersh or Savane is or why I should care. This message was not printed before and is distracting and confusing. I have updated GNU webpages using CVS many times over several years and never had this message before. Using CVS from the command line is fiddly enough as it is (as I only use CVS infrequently to update GNU webpages I don't use it enough to be comfortable with it) without having extra messages to worry about. This message looks like an advert to me and isn't helpful. If I wanted to download the source code of Savane I would look for it myself, without having it shoved in my face. Can this unnecessary and annoying message please be removed? Thank you for your work on Savannah.
