On Wed, Mar 01, 2017 at 09:53:54AM -0500, Alfred M. Szmidt wrote: > Best solution for any GNU parts and software would be that there is > clear policy on hosting. > > There is clear policy, and it is up to the discretion of the > maintainer. This is spelled out in the GNU Maintainer guidelines.
I did know know it. And now I have found the link: https://www.gnu.org/prep/maintain/maintain.html#Hosting Quote: ------ We recommend using savannah.gnu.org for the source code repository for your package, but that’s not required. See Old Versions, for more information about Savannah. We strongly urge you to use ftp.gnu.org as the standard distribution site for releases. Doing so makes it easier for developers and users to find the latest GNU releases. However, it is ok to use another server if you wish, provided it allows access from the general public without limitation (for instance, without excluding any country). That way, I am limited, when using wget, and wrong Tor exit (hypothetically) to access the software. It is a clear limitation. > I would propose that if the original project is hosted somewhere else, > but on GNU website, including Savannah and GNU FTP, then the copy of > software shall be served from GNU website or GNU FTP or Savannah, and > the original project may be served as they wish. > > Would you like to help doing that? You can try contributing pataches > to packages which are not hosted on ftp.gnu.org so it would be easy > for the maintainer to put it there as part of their release > procedure. I could certainly help on making the copy from the original website, to the GNU website, and I could monitor the releases, just like I am doing it now. My system is GNU, self made, and I download directly all packages, without using any distribution. > Downloading from Sourceforege like for example CLISP, GNU Common Lisp, > or downloading through Cloudfare, and other providers (Github), is not > reasonable for freedom loving users. > > You say that it is not reasonable, but not explaining why. Then let me explain you why: 1. Sourceforge, uses too much advertising, access with simplest browsers is difficult, promotes usage of proprietary iPhone based cloud tools for voice communication (today that one, tomorrow something else), uses Cloudfront itself, and imposes non-free Javascript on users (/* Copyright 2017 Bizx, LLC All rights reserved. */) -- so I don't know any good reason, why Sourceforge should be allowed to host GNU projects. It imposes limitations, one of most important limitations is pushing the non-free software to GNU users. It imposes serious restrictions to use directly wget or direct downloads, their concept is based on clicks, advertising, and users are moved to use the HTML websites, and not simple FTP. 2. Github, imposes non-free Javascript, and has itself proprietary software (Github). Gitlab is more ethical, they provide the software to users. Or maybe you should read their license: https://enterprise.github.com/license Did you read the concept of Github? They are simply using or better said, abusing the concept of free software for their own purposes. It gives incentives to have proprietary software on Github. 3. CloudFlare, should be very obvious, it imposes limitations, which is in limitation to the GNU Maintainer guidelines, see the link above. None of above websites are friendly websites for software downloaders. > I find it perfectly reasonable, just like when one downloaded GNU > projects from prep.ai.mit.edu, tsx-11, or Sunsite. Absolutely not. Your argument is obviously without any analysis. How it can be "perfectly" reasonable. Did you see the one anonymous complaining on not being able to download the GNU Software? I am in the same group of people as I am downloading GNU software myself, directly, without using distributions. Did not use GNU radio yet, however, I get pissed off if being redirected to captcha or Cloudflare, and especially when I need to download from Sourceforge, Github, or need to submit the bugs there. That is why the GNU Maintainer policies have to be improved, limitations shall be defined, and any software hosted elsewhere, shall be copied to GNU servers, which are friendly to all users. Jean Louis
