Trisquel is free software distribution of GNU operating system.
Please see the ongoing discussion that I have made on GuixSD developers
mailing list:
http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/guix-devel/2016-03/msg01213.html
The discussion is related to MAME mainly. Here is my incentive to Trisquel,
to simply remove the Wine software from distribution.
However, Wine is problematic software to be included in any of free software
distributions. Why? It is not aligned with free software philosophy and
guidelines:
From: http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html
-- cite --
Please Teach Users about Free Software
To establish lasting freedom, just giving users freedom isn't sufficient. It
is necessary also to teach them to understand what it means and to demand it.
Thus, we suggest and urge that free distros announce prominently on the
screen, before login and on the default desktop after login, a prominent
statement about freedom, such as “This system is freedom-respecting
free/libre software” or something comparable, and to present a link or icon
pointing at gnu.org or gnu.org/philosophy for further information about the
issue.
-- end of cite --
When software package includes the homepage to WineHQ, it clearly gives
references to a platform that promotes and encourages users to use non-free
software. Just look at their website: https://appdb.winehq.org/ -- there are
at least 30 games that are promoted in the Platinum, Gold and Silver list
just on that one page.
There shall be no rationalization or justifications for Wine, "it runs my
notepad++" or something like that. Because majority of users will be
searching for Wine, they will come to Trisquel, and what is happening then?
People are divided.
Let us see example of "dividing people":
https://trisquel.info/en/forum/can-i-get-games-wine-working-trisquel
That clearly shows rejection of the user, who did nothing else but found wine
in the free software distribution, and instead of learning what is free
software, he logically asks other users to help him install games, which are
not free. The community answer is "no, we don't support you to install
non-free games" -- but why in the first place was Wine included in the
distribution then?! To divide users?
Imagine how many other users will come over the time to Trisquel. How many
times they will be rejected in the future with "No please, we will not give
you answers on the running the proprietary software". I have not seen a real
"support request for Wine running the free software". I have seen only
support requests for non-free software.
By including Wine, Mame, and any other such emulator which is basically
platform for non-free software, free software distribution falls into
hypocrisy and encourages users to go to homepages, dedicated to support,
download or run non-free software, which makes absolutely no sense.
Who wants to play non-free games, may download packages themselves, but it
should not be distributed from a free software distribution.
There is whole list of supposedly "free software" that runs on Wine:
https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?bIsQueue=false&bIsRejected=false&sClass=application&sTitle=Browse+Applications&sReturnTo=&iId=0&iItemsPerPage=25&iPage=1&iappVersion-licenseOp0=5&sappVersion-licenseData0=Open+Source&sOrderBy=appName&bAscending=true&iItemsPerPage=200
However such list is deceptive. If user follows the development of Wine,
user is going to see or browse package definitions, will see the Wine
website and then numerous numerous pointers to non-free software:
https://appdb.winehq.org/index.php
How many people more are going to be divided due to inclusion of such
software?
Why not make a clear policy on that, and simply not include it.
