From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Mathieu Lirzin Subject: Re: MAME emulator is giving incentive to use non-free software Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 16:23:15 +0200 Message-ID: <87h9fpnz1o.fsf@gnu.org> References: <20160328215516.GA27719@protected.rcdrun.com> <20160329002620.GB6484@jookia-eeepc.Home> <20160329044242.GA1239@protected.rcdrun.com> <20160329062711.GA17752@jookia-eeepc.Home> <20160329073040.GA20807@protected.rcdrun.com> <20160329082522.GA10814@jookia-eeepc.Home> <20160329120051.GD13512@protected.rcdrun.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Return-path: Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::10]:52584) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1akuYG-0008Jk-1C for guix-devel@gnu.org; Tue, 29 Mar 2016 10:23:25 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1akuYA-0000iQ-45 for guix-devel@gnu.org; Tue, 29 Mar 2016 10:23:23 -0400 In-Reply-To: <20160329120051.GD13512@protected.rcdrun.com> (Jean Louis's message of "Tue, 29 Mar 2016 14:00:51 +0200") List-Id: "Development of GNU Guix and the GNU System distribution." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: guix-devel-bounces+gcggd-guix-devel=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Sender: guix-devel-bounces+gcggd-guix-devel=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: Jean Louis Cc: guix-devel@gnu.org Hi, Jean Louis writes: > On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 12:35:12PM +0100, rain1@openmailbox.org wrote: >> MAME, Wine, Qemu and GNU/linux-libre all have the following in common: Y= ou >> can use them to run non free software. While they can all also be used to >> run free software I don't think this is important. Here's why: The freed= om >> to run the program as you wish, for any purpose (freedom 0). > > OK, please remember, I discuss this in friendly manner, totally separate > from other subjects. It is not personal. I wish that people get > awareness of what means pushing free software into society. > > I do feel that in GuixSD, since yesterday, there is lack of the > understanding what means truly free software.=20 When talking to people contributing to a GNU project which consists of a FSDG compliant package manager and distribution, this is not good communication to suggest that =E2=80=9Cthey=E2=80=9D don't understand the t= rue meaning of Free Software. I think it would be better to just say that according to your interpretation of FSDG, Guix should not distribute MAME. > Cite: > > "What would be unacceptable is for the documentation to give people > instructions for installing a nonfree program on the system, or mention > conveniences they might gain by doing so." > > Does README.md here, belongs to documentation? I think it does. > https://github.com/mamedev/mame The FSDG refers to documentation provided by the distribution not upstream. If upstream does include some documentation or description not compliant with FSDG then Guix will not distribute such piece. > I use free software and I am free and fine with it. I am not using free > software to have 2 faces or to recommend to others non-free software. MAME is Free Software. If MAME has required non-free ROMs to run then it will not be possible to distribute it and comply with FSDG, however it seems that MAME can be run with free ROMs and does not suggest installing non-free code when running it. I have no interest in MAME, but refusing to distribute it makes assumption about what people are going to use it for. The fact that apparently =E2=80=9Cmost=E2=80=9D people are running non-free stuff on top = of it, is not a valid argument in term of software freedom or compliance with FSDG. It could be valid for other ethical issues but IMO Guix should focus only on Free Software ethics. Does it make sense? --=20 Mathieu Lirzin