On Wed, Jan 11, 2006 at 12:00:06PM -0500, Nathanael Nerode wrote: > "Firmware" are programs. They are binary executables designed to run on a > CPU. > > Source code is clearly mandatory under the DFSG for programs. > > There is no room for discussion here; the binary-only firmware is clearly > non-free.
Well, no, there's always room for discussion. I agree with what you mean, though: a lot of firmwares really are unambiguously programs. I think trying to declare firmware to be "not a program", in order to permit it in main without including source, is contrived; if Debian wants to allow firmware without source, it shouldn't use a faulty definition of "program" to accomplish that. Instead, it should say what it means: "we don't require source for this class of program". It seems much more honest to answer the question "do we want to require source for firmware programs?"--and change the DFSG if it disagrees with the project's conclusion--than to ask "do we want to pretend firmware isn't a program, so we can ignore the DFSG's source requirements?" -- Glenn Maynard -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
