Bruce Sass wrote: > What is the FSF, what does the FSF do that GNU can not, and why.
GNU is a project to create a free-software implementation of Unix. The FSF is an organisation set up to run the project. Please see the GNU pages for more. <http://www.gnu.org/> > Is Debian a front for GNU, or an independent entity. Debian is a distribution of GNU software, the Linux kernel, and other software that meets the Debian Free Software Guidelines. > GNU's idea of "free" appears quite different: subject to the will of > GNU; confined to GNU's notion of "free"; obligated to follow GNU > philosophy. The GNU definition of free software can be read on their web site. The GNU project does not encompass all free software, and not all free software has been released under the GNU GPL. > wouldn't the average reasonable person assume that the "free" in "free > software" carries the same meaning as the word "free" does when used in > other contexts. GNU may champion "free software", but it does not > champion "free", the 17,000+ byte General Public License makes that clear. The GNU GPL is, to paraphrase RMS, "only meant to solve some of the world's problems, not all of them". What do you expect? That a *software* license will guarantee all your human freedoms? > My biggest worry is that Debian will become too GNUish I don't understand the term "GNUish". The DFSG have not changed for quite a while and there is no proposal in place to change them now. What is it you fear will happen? > Why doesn't GNU set up their own front-end to Debian, > one that only allows access to what GNU considers to be "free"? Possibly because, as another poster said, Debian is doing quite well in separating between free and non-free. In fact, as another pointed out, it is the *only* distribution that currently makes the distinction clear. The current proposal is intented (I believe) to clarify the distinction further. > Users and developers would then be able to make a choice between a > free Debian style Linux/HURD/whatever distribution, and the GNU window > into the same distribution. Explain your understanding of "free Debian style" as opposed to the "GNU window into" a distribution. I don't see anything in the current proposal, or RMS's comments, that advocates a GNU-only approach to anything. > This suggestion could result in Debian becoming the freest software > distribution around, rather than a second-rate distribution because it > is missing currently important pieces like Netscape and ssh. You seem to suggest that the lack of *non-free* packages like Netscape Communicator and SSH is what is keeping Debian from being the "freest software distribution around". That is a patent contradiction, so either I don't get what you're saying, or you're confused. -- Regards, Ben Finney, System Administrator PrintSoft Pty Ltd
