[GNU-linux-libre] Re: Freedom issues with non-free firmware in external files

[Yavor Doganov]

Daniel Olivera wrote:
> Consideration is a personal opinion.

Of course it is a personal opinion.  Ututo is not an
ebuild/compilation bot/farm, right?  The technical and philosophical
decisions a distro makes is essentially what makes it a different
distro.

I am not going to even attempt to teach you how to run your own
distro, that would be ridiculuous.  But it really looks like we are
misunderstanding each other.

> If have 4 freedoms is free software.
> For us that is de "line"

So you say that a free program that is only usable in conjuction with
a non-free one is OK to use (and distribute)?

> Only if system provider distribute a non-free software.

You are the system provider.

> >> iwl3945 driver is GPL-2 and don't need any non-free component to
> >> compile.
> > 
> > Yeah, everything is bundled with the "source".

> No.
> GPL-2 module with in the kernel.
> firmware is distributed by others.
> Are 2 different software packages.

Forgive me my lack of knowledge about wireless technologies.  So, if
I get it right, iwl3945 is a free driver distributed with the Linux
kernel that cannot possibly work without non-free firmware distributed
by others (Intel)?  If so, it is a perfect example of something that
should be purged.

> UTUTO not distribute any software if this software don't have 4
> freedoms according to FSF definition of free software.

I strongly encourage you to (re-)read the other materials at
http://gnu.org/philosophy.  The free software definition is only a
starting point, and I dare to say that you simply cannot evaluate
packages in isolation, without taking into account their runtime (and
build) dependencies.  At least the Savannah Hackers do this painful
excercise, and I'm unpleasantly surprised that Ututo does not.