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Comment by 2OEH8eoCRo0

5 years ago

The FSF is too dogmatic.

I love this page: https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.en.html

"Debian's Social Contract states the goal of making Debian entirely free software, and Debian conscientiously keeps nonfree software out of the official Debian system. However, Debian also maintains a repository of nonfree software."

So shipping free software isn't even enough for admission to the FSFs special club. Right. I've stopped listening to anything Stallman says.

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2OEH8eoCRo0

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cogburnd02  5 years ago

> The FSF is too dogmatic.

I disagree. They have a moral value system, and they adhere to it. Just like (say) Roman Catholicism.

The FSF's point of view is that by providing repositories (which make installing a program a single command-line or a few GUI-clicks away) that's not functionally different from that being a part of the operating system. So providing repositories of nonfree software is functionally equivalent to including that software in the OS itself.

And to have software freedom, then all the software on a machine must respect the user's freedom; i.e. be free software.

jabl  5 years ago

> The FSF is too dogmatic.

In other news, water is wet.

More seriously, yeah there's a place for ideological organizations that broadcast their philosophy and won't budge when moneyed interests try to push them around. But such organizations also tend to be difficult to work with if you just want to get stuff done.

rando832  5 years ago

Your quote is misleading. There are a list of reasons on that page, you imply it's just that one reason.

> So shipping free software isn't even enough for admission to the FSFs special club.

If you're free is designed to "lead others to make use of" nonfree software, then of course not: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html