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

Thu Nov 10 14:22:09 CET 2011

2011/11/10 Frank Griffin <ftg at roadrunner.com>:
+> On 11/10/2011 02:25 AM, Johnny A. Solbu wrote:
+>>
+>> 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?)
+>
+> If we're going to have core and non-free to begin with, then non-free stuff
+> shouldn't be in core.  That being said, it isn't the problem here.  The
+> problem is that non-free isn't as available as core.  It should be, based on
+> prompting the user during install.  Those who want a totally free system
+> that lacks non-free functionality just have to say no.
+>
+> If it makes a philosophical difference, then have no default and require the
+> user to explicitly answer yes or no, and get treated accordingly.  Putting
+> non-free stuff in core is an attempted solution to the problem that enabling
+> and using non-free in an installed core-only system is much more complicated
+> than it ought to be.  By the time a user boots his installed system,
+> non-free stuff should already be there if he wants it there.
+
+By the time a user boots his installed system he either has the online
+repositories already set (after install from liveCD) or is just a
+mouse click away from setting them. When the online repos are set the
+non-free repo is available if the user wants to have it.
+
+Again it boils down to the decision whether Mageia wants to distribute
+non-free in her installation media or not. This decision has been made
+long ago and discussing the same settled issue over and over again is
+wasting time.
+
+-- 
+wobo
+