[Mageia-dev] Free software needing non-free data

Sun Aug 5 16:09:14 CEST 2012

> Hi,
+>
+> I've reread our policy, but it's unclear to me where to put free software
+> that
+> can't work (in a useful way for a user) without non-free data.
+>
+> We currently have a mix of situations (sometimes in core, sometimes in
+> nonfree), which shows that it's not totally clear to other packagers
+> either.
+>
+> I see 2 different situations:
+>
+> --- redistributable data ---
+> Data is put in nonfree media, so the binaries are put in nonfree too
+> because
+> we can't put a requires from core to nonfree
+>
+> Example : warsow and warsow-data
+>
+> --- non redistributable data ---
+> Here two different policies seem to be applied, depending on the packager:
+> 1°) put the binaries in core, since they are free
+> 2°) put the binaries in non-free, since they are useless without non-free
+> data
+> (extrapolation of the "self-contained" rule of core)
+>
+> And there are grayzone cases, such as:
+> - prboom (free) which is meant to work with Doom's wads (nonfree) but can
+> also
+> work with freedoom (free), so it's in core even if we apply 2°
+> - ioquake3, which is an engine that can be used by other free games
+> (although
+> I think they often ship their own modified version), so it's in core even
+> if we
+> apply 2°
+>
+
+
+there's also eduke32, which is free; but, there are some grayzones.
+
+in theory, you need Duke Nukem 3D CD.
+
+but there's also mods for it and some work with duke3D files.
+
+there's also a duke3D-hrp (high resolution content) which needs duke3D cd
+to work.
+
+then there's also the demo, which is shareware (allthough redistributable
+status is unclear), and should be possible to use this without the CD.
+
+It's definately possible to use eduke32 with your own content. and might
+be possible to run some of the mods without the duke nukem CD. (allthough
+i haven't doublechecked).
+
+for this, i would like to have the eduke32-hrp (400MB) in non-free because
+it requires non-redistributable data, but the eduke32 in free. because
+it's free. even if you make your own content or find some mods that are
+free and have no requirement on non-free content.
+
+i would add a message that this free program can/might depend on non-free
+or even non-distributable content. so that if nonfree is disabled, the
+person would be notified and the suggests be invalidated (not require)
+
+