Re: [UTUTO-GNU] Distribution Packaging Collaboration

[Pablo Manuel Rizzo]

On 6/23/07, Abdur-Rahman <address@hidden> wrote:
> Hi All!
>
> My name is Abdur-Rahman Morgan. I have been using gNewSense and BLAG for

Hi Abdur

> about several months and I enjoy both distributions. I notice that both
> distros carry their own variety of packages. Is there any method by
> which both distros in addition with Ututo, could combine efforts for:
>
> 1). Freedom Verification. I see that gNewSense is currently actively
> working on this and think that it is important for all the GNU/Linux
> Distributions to maintain that each package is in fact free. Is there

UTUTO is working on it since 2003, it was the first project verifying
that all packages in it's repository be 100% Free Software. We have a
forum where we can discuss every package. Have you got a better idea?

> any method by which we could make sure at least all the distributions
> have at least all the same packages because I see that some programs
> that are available in gNewSense are not available in BLAG.

I don't think so... we have a project called "universal packages" but
we are still searching for an efficient mechanism for this (the bad
way is already there)

> I have not
> used Ututo as of yet, but imagine that it will have some difference as well.

You better give it a try, it's not better than others, but you should see it.


> *Would it be correct to say that all the packages in the Free Software
> Directory are considered free and that all other packages would just
> need to be verified.

No, it wouldn't. The FSD lists only a minimal subset of the existing
Free Software, it would be better to look at the licence of each
package and look for it in the Licences List here
http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/
Any packages with unlisted licence must be verified.

> Also, in our package management systems, would we
> be able add a method to categorize packages by their license
> specifically, so that we know that only Free Licenses are in the
> distributions.

Every package in the UTUTO's repository reports it's license.

I don't get your idea about how the three projects could collaborate
on this issues, have you a specific proposal?


PD: sorry for my bad english, hope you undertand what I mean...

--
Pablo Manuel Rizzo
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Aunque supiera que el mundo se acabará mañana,
Igual plantaría mi manzano.   -- Martin Luther King --
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