Re: [ELPA] New package: repology.el

[Arthur Miller]

Jean Louis <bugs@gnu.support> writes:

> Example user experience with repology:
>
> 1. M-x load-file RET repology.el RET
> 2. M-x repology RET s search RET toys OK RET
>
> then I can find list like below.
>
> docbook-toys              5     -            -
> etoys                     40    5.0.2408     4.0.2340
>
> and many others. Then if I click on `etoys' I get list like:
>
> AUR                  etoys                5.0.2408     -                      
>    fallback-mnt-aur@repology
> Debian Oldstable     etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Debian Stable        etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Debian Testing       etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Debian Unstable      etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Deepin               etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Devuan 1.0 (Jessie)  etoys                4.0.2340     non-free/games         
>    jredrejo@debian.org holger@debian.org
> Devuan 2.0 (ASCII)   etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Devuan 3.0 (Beowulf) etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Devuan 4.0 (Chimaera) etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games        
>     pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Devuan Unstable      etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Kali Linux Rolling   etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Pardus               etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Parrot               etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Raspbian Oldstable   etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Raspbian Stable      etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
> Raspbian Testing     etoys                5.0.2408     non-free/games         
>    pkg-sugar-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org dr@jones.dk
>
> In the same manner I can stumble upon nvidia or other non-free
> graphics drivers, and plethora of other non-free software:
>
> Debian Stable Backports nvidia-graphics-drivers-tesla-418 418.165.02
> non-free/misc pkg-nvidia-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org anbe@debian.org
> bluca@debian.org
> Debian Testing nvidia-graphics-drivers-tesla-418 418.165.02 non-free/misc
> pkg-nvidia-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org anbe@debian.org bluca@debian.org
> Debian Unstable nvidia-graphics-drivers-tesla-418 418.165.02 non-free/misc
> pkg-nvidia-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org anbe@debian.org bluca@debian.org
> Devuan 4.0 (Chimaera) nvidia-graphics-drivers-tesla-418 418.165.02 
> non-free/misc
> pkg-nvidia-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org anbe@debian.org bluca@debian.org
> Devuan Unstable nvidia-graphics-drivers-tesla-418 418.165.02 non-free/misc
> pkg-nvidia-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org anbe@debian.org bluca@debian.org
> Kali Linux Rolling nvidia-graphics-drivers-tesla-418 418.165.02 non-free/misc
> pkg-nvidia-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org anbe@debian.org bluca@debian.org
> MX Linux MX-17 Testing nvidia-graphics-drivers-tesla-418 418.165.02
> non-free/libs pkg-nvidia-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org anbe@debian.org
> bluca@debian.org
> MX Linux MX-19 Testing nvidia-graphics-drivers-tesla-418 418.165.02
> non-free/libs pkg-nvidia-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org anbe@debian.org
> bluca@debian.org
> Parrot nvidia-graphics-drivers-tesla-418 418.165.02 non-free/misc
> pkg-nvidia-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org anbe@debian.org bluca@debian.org
> Raspbian Testing nvidia-graphics-drivers-tesla-418 418.165.02 non-free/misc
> pkg-nvidia-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org anbe@debian.org bluca@debian.org
>
> Most of times it will not say clearly "non-free" as I have just listed
> those from Debian non-free.
>
> GNU ELPA should not provide access to an indexed catalogue of non-free
> software.
>
> Jean
As I see, it says "non-free", so what is the problem?

I think it is rather informative to see if a piece of software is free
or not free, that way I can at least avoid non-free ones.

Are we now dogmatically religious where non-free software is forbidden
to even be mentioned as non-free? That smells to me as a slippery slope
into dogmatism and absolutism.

Is there free-speach if people are not allowed to speak freely about
some subject(s) like mentioning non-free software?

I think the problem for you is that you see that list as a
"recommendation list". If you instead interpret it as a "black list",
than having list of non-free software becomes a useful listing in terms
of things to avoid :-).

Cheers
/a