[Mageia-dev] Removal of non-free firmware from core section

Thu Nov 10 08:25:03 CET 2011

On Monday 07 November 2011 23:58, José Jorge wrote:
+> So I'd say yes it can and should move to non-free, as it is even possible to 
+> use this hardware without it.
+
+In other words, you would prefer to have non-free drivers to remain in the "core" tree because otherwise some hardware may not work? (Did i understand you correctly?)
+
+Then why are there any drivers in the non-free tree and not in "core"? Either we have a separation of Free and non-free software or we do not. Mixing Free and non-free packages in the "core" tree when we have a nonfree tree is inconsistent. Whether or not it makes anything work shouldn't matter on the desition to move non-free packages into the nonfree tree. The license should be the decisive factor.
+
+I am of the firm belief that we ought to have a clear separation between Free and non-free software, and have the ones who want it, add the non-free tree. (I am one of those who have the non-free tree in my available repository list, mainly because of some patent encumbered software, and proprietary codecs, but that is My choice to make.)
+
+Debian are going down this path, and their "main" tree have now only Free software, after they moved the non-free kernel drivers into the non-free section last february with Debian 6.0. Meaning, if one install Debian and only have main and contrib repos, one have a Free software only installation.
+We should do the same.
+
+I guess it comes down to this: Do we want to have Only Free software packages in "core" or not.
+I think it would be in our interest to do this.
+
+-- 
+Johnny A. Solbu
+PGP key ID: 0xFA687324
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