Re: [Trisquel-users] Software Freeness
A distinction must also be made between non-free software and non-FSDG software. The Free Software Definition is how we determine if a piece of software is free or not. This definition is at http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html and is comprised of the four freedoms: the freedom to run, study, modify, and share software. If you can do all four of these, without restriction (save for the possible copyleft condition that you let people who receive copies from you have the same four freedoms - but no other restrictions), it is free. If you cannot, it is not free. What the software recommends, works with, or depends on has no bearing on this definition. The Free Software Definition applies to a single piece of software. Under this definition, Mozilla Firefox is free because you can do all these things. The Free Software Distribution Guidelines (FSDG) are the criteria that FSF uses when deciding which distros they endorse. These guidelines are here: http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html. The FSDG is an extension of the free software definition that takes into account how the software interacts with other packages on the system. Non-free software is obviously non-FSDG too, but FSDG also requires that software not recommend, work with, or depend too much on non-free software. If a piece of non-free software is essential to the functionality of this software, it is not FSDG, even though it may be free. The FSDG are criteria for distros, not individual packages, and not users. So we, as users, are not obliged to follow FSDG, even if we want to keep a fully free system. This is the LibrePlanet list of packages which present issues for FSDG distros: http://libreplanet.org/wiki/List_of_software_that_does_not_respect_the_Free_System_Distribution_Guidelines I feel like I need to keep saying this, but inclusion on this list doesn't imply that the software in question is not free. Some of those are non-free, others have non-free bits, others depend on non-free data or libraries, others recommend or mention non-free programs (even a mention of the name of a non-free program is enough to get it on this list, apparently), and still others have no use except in conjunction with non-free programs. Because Trisquel would indirectly be promoting non-free software if it included any of these packages, as they were, it conflicts with the mission of Trisquel; but you can use these packages (assuming they are free as defined by the free software definition) and your system stays free unless you install a non-free addition.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Software Freeness
I wouldn't say there was no reason. I think it was a misunderstanding which you clarified very well with your first post.
Re: [Trisquel-users] New to Trisquel
Looks wise, the standard Gnome 2 based versions of Trisquel are some of best looking out there, but the Mini versions (based off of LXDE) can still use some work with the default theme. Mini is better looking than Lubuntu but not Linux Mint 11 LXDE and hopefully that changes in a new release. The standard Debian release has won awards for being one of the most free software compatible distros with the default install offering a free kernel without binary blobs: http://www.debian.org/News/2011/20110304 With the release of Squeeze, the latest stable version, in February, Debian has taken the important step of offering a completely free kernel, with no binary blobs. This is a first for a major distribution in recent times. Debian is giving its users Freedom by default. And this Freedom for users and developers on a massive scale truly is Debian's outstanding contribution, not just to Free Software, but to the information society.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Does Trisquel need more money?
I also want to donate (and to become a member) but don't really want to join PayPal to do it. A yearly donation via credit card would be great.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Is Handbrake free software?
I added an issue: https://trisquel.info/en/issues/4237
Re: [Trisquel-users] MythTV missing in Dagda
Done. https://trisquel.info/en/issues/4236
Re: [Trisquel-users] Software Freeness
So you are basically saying that a bunch of independent community members that rely on source code given to them have more technical knowledge and ability to put out a more polished product than the actual company that made it and supplies the source code? Different technical knowledge is needed to make good distro packages. It's common for upstream projects to write technically bad scripts for building and installing their packages and to ignore many issues important for distros (e.g. using other libraries by requiring other packages, not by bundling a version of them in the same package, thus leading to bigger packages and more security problems). Distros like Debian make also useful technical improvements to packages, which wouldn't be quickly merged upstream. pgpYkpE3frllu.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: [Trisquel-users] Software Freeness
You should keep in mind that, if he isn't subscribed to the mailing list, he won't receive your reply.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Software Freeness
I am only talking about the packaging work (from the source code to the DEB package), which is one of the main work of the distributions. This is far from being easy to package a large piece of software.
Re: [Trisquel-users] Is Handbrake free software?
Should that problem be raised to people (such as Adrian Malacoda) maintaining the list of software that does not respect the Free System Distribution Guidelines: http://libreplanet.org/wiki/List_of_software_that_does_not_respect_the_Free_System_Distribution_Guidelines
Re: [Trisquel-users] Trisquel 5.0 Release announcement
Hi guys, thanks for the feedback. I have upgraded from slaine to dagda with no major issues. However, xpdf is giving me some serious trouble: https://trisquel.info/en/issues/4238
Re: [Trisquel-users] AMD E350, E450, Fusion chips
I thought it's called exsourcising ;)
Re: [Trisquel-users] No audio on Lemote R60
Hi Magic Banana, thanks for the link. Following the instructions, the audio worked fine for a few seconds, then overlapped a terrible whistle :-|
