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

Thu Nov 10 16:03:28 CET 2011

2011/11/10 xi <ctrl.alt.sup at free.fr>:
+> Wolfgang Bornath wrote:
+>>
+>> 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.
+>>
+> What about if I don't have internet access ?
+
+Then he should use the liveCD. As has been in Mandriva.
+
+> If it is just a matter of asking to user whether or not he wants to install
+> non free firmware, then just go! But if the user with no internet access is
+> stuck because of firmware absence, then that's just stupid!
+
+This has been the same in Mandriva times:
+ - an installation DVD as Free Edition without non-free stuff
+ - installable LiveCDs including non-free drivers.
+
+-- 
+wobo
+