[Mageia-dev] Non-free firmwares in installer

Fri Mar 25 08:17:27 CET 2011

+----- "andre999" <andr55 at laposte.net> wrote:
+
+
+> ok.
+> My though was essentially that firmware is so close to hardware that
+> its 
+> actual free/non-free status shouldn't apply - we should treat it like
+> 
+> (almost) part of the hardware.
+
+I would agree, but some people wouldn't.
+
+> As for the drivers, a little more distant from the hardware, they
+> could 
+> be in non-free, but I sincerely think that they should be on all 
+> installation isos.
+
+I wouldn't say "all".
+
+> That is, on installing from an iso, all hardware-related functions 
+> should (ideally) be fully functional, even if it requires using
+> non-free 
+> drivers.
+
+IMHO, not without informing the user, so that they have the choice (e.g. to consider replacing the hardware by something supported by free software => supporting vendors who support free software).
+
+> The lack of some drivers (or components of drivers) can render a
+> system 
+> technically functional, but with important dysfunctions, simply
+> because 
+> the required drivers were not available on installation.
+> That should not happen.
+
+IMHO, that is not *our* choice to make for the user.
+
+> The kernel, firmware and drivers, built on the hardware, provide a 
+> platform on which the application software runs.
+> True, it is better if drivers are open source, but in my view, it is 
+> application software where open source is the most important.
+
+But, that is *your* view.
+
+IMHO, some of these questions should be posed to the community.
+
+For example, maybe we should brand ISO releases as something like "Mageia Libre" and "Mageia Gratis" (note, not a "Mageia" and "Mageia limited" or similar, give equal standing to both releases), where Libre would include no non-free software of any kind on the media, users using Libre would never be prompted about non-free software (without opting in, by e.g. installing a different release package). Gratis would include non-free software/firmware required to enable hardware or specific hardware features.
+
+I think it may be worthwhile catering to users who would like to follow FSF Free distribution guidelines as closely as possible, by providing a release that is as close as practically possible to these guidelines (but still making it possible for pragmatic users to have a good experience).
+
+Regards,
+Buchan
+