Knoppix not a Debian System: It contains non-free software!

Posted Nov 5, 2002 22:50 UTC (Tue) by ber (subscriber, #2142)
Parent article: Knoppix makes a great GUI installer for Debian (LinuxWorld)

The Debian Social contract states that Debian will be kept 100% Free Software . Knoppix still contains packets from non-free and additional non-free binary modules (IIRC for the kernel, x11 and xine). The Free Software community needs to create a freedom added version of Knoppix before it really can promote it.

Knoppix not a Debian System: It contains non-free software!

Posted Nov 6, 2002 1:13 UTC (Wed) by erichey2 (guest, #7503) [Link] (4 responses)

BFD! Knoppix is great, and they provide Debian software, not the Debian religion, thank Allah, etc. Who really cares whether Debian promotes it or not. It provides a useful function, and it's free as in beer not free as in those who bow to the FSO altar. Hold your nose and enjoy!

Knoppix not a Debian System: It contains non-free software!

Posted Nov 6, 2002 3:29 UTC (Wed) by origz (guest, #1985) [Link] (3 responses)

Really. I don't think many people really care if something is GPL'd or not, just as long as it's available at no charge and preferably with sources. Usability should be the primary concern, and not the license. Religious wars are not going to get free software anywhere, usability will.

Knoppix not a "real Debian" System: It contains non-free software!

Posted Nov 6, 2002 12:06 UTC (Wed) by ber (subscriber, #2142) [Link]

Note that there are more Free Software licences than just the GNU GPL
e.g. the X11 license. So that is not the point.

Without people standing up for their freedoms
we would not have such usable GNU/Linux systems today.
The longer people fall into the proprietory traps
the longer it will take to gain usable Free Software.
I'm all in for usability and resisting proprietory offers will get us there faster.

Knoppix not a Debian System: It contains non-free software!

Posted Nov 6, 2002 13:43 UTC (Wed) by dansan (guest, #7519) [Link] (1 responses)

It is sad to see people get upset about the zeal of some to keep Debian free (and you all know what I mean by that). I'm all with you in the usability, but I think that bowing before non-free licences is not going to help us here. Maybe we can paraphrase Benjamin Franklin a little: "Those who are willing to sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither." =~ s/security/usability/;

Anyway. I personally LOVE Knoppix. It is AWESOME. And I do hope it motivates some more people out there to emulate that kind of stuff. It will be a great day when we can incorporate something like that into Debian, and do it the Debian way (FREE!).

--------------------------------
"Never interrupt your enemy when
he is making a mistake".
Napoleon Bonaparte
--------------------------------

Knoppix not a Debian System: It contains non-free software!

Posted Dec 20, 2002 8:14 UTC (Fri) by mutiny (guest, #8717) [Link]

If usability is all that matters, then you won't
mind if I use your house to do whatever I want like
rip out the walls and make a free beer bar.
Oh, but I won't interupt you while you're out
practicing your religion of selfishness and praying
at the alter of usability.