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Author: Didier Kryn
Date:  
To: dng
Subject: Re: [Dng] Devuan commitments - will trade-off be applied?

Le 21/03/2015 17:52, Go Linux a écrit :
> On Sat, 3/21/15, Miles Fidelman <mfidelman@???> wrote:
>
> Subject: Re: [Dng] Devuan commitments - will trade-off be applied?
> To: dng@???
> Date: Saturday, March 21, 2015, 11:25 AM
>
> Didier Kryn wrote:
>>      We all agree that Devuan was born to be systemd-free and this
>> looks like a sustainable goal to begin with. But I understood this
>> thread started with questioning the long term policy.

>>
>>      For sure, if one wants systemd, this one should install Debian, or
>> RH. Also, to all of us, anybody trying to provide systemd for Devuan
>> would be suspect of being malevolent

>>
>>      However, the long term policy of Devuan can't be "We hate systemd
>> and Lennart Poetering". Instead Devuan should advertize the reasons to
>> reject software like systemd, in the form of  a set of rules for
>> acceptability, in a sensible and attractive form, for users,
>> developpers, and distros to easily share. I see these rules as an
>> addendum to the definition of free software.

>>
>>      These rules would obviously put systemd out of the free-software
>> category, let's call it anti-freedom, which is worse than non-free.
>> This does not mean there needs to be an anti-freedom repository, after
>> all :-)

>>
>>       This leaves no room for systemd-contaminated software, except if
>> the systemd API can be replaced by  a do-otherwise/do-nothing stub.
> That raises an interesting point - might be time to think about refining
> the definition of "free software" (per
> http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html)

>
> A program is free software if the program's users have the four
> essential freedoms:
>
>    * The freedom to run the program as you wish, for any purpose (freedom 0).
>    * The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does
>      your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is
>      a precondition for this.
>    * The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
>      (freedom 2).
>    * The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others
>      (freedom 3). By doing this you can give the whole community a chance
>      to benefit from your changes. Access to the source code is a
>      precondition for this.

>
> Perhaps it's time to add something along the lines of "the freedom to
> install software without it taking over your machine" (obviously this
> needs work, or we'd it would eliminate things like the kernel, file
> system, etc.).
>
> Miles Fidelman
>
> --------------------------------------------
>
> Miles . . . you might want to revisit hellekin's draft constitution:
>
> https://git.devuan.org/devuan/devuan-project/wikis/HellekinConstitutionDraft
>
> This is near the top:
>
> "Devuan fosters a diversity of approaches to avoid technical lock-ins to specific implementations"
>
> There are other interesting ideas in there also that answer to your concerns.
>
> golinux
>

     True. This description of the project contains already a lot of the 
ideas we are shaking on the list.


     There are still concerns about the fact that some of the software 
we use are big hairballs and enforce technical lock-ins. Eg. the Linux 
kernel and the X-Window system. There's also the issue of non-free 
binary blobs, like proprietary firmwares and drivers. We must accept 
some of these for the sake of having a working OS.


     BUT, everywhere there is choice, the solution(s) in the spirit of 
KISS and UNIX shall be preferred and the others rejected. Only when we 
haven't the choice will we install the non-KISS/non-UNIX.


     For the moment, the only replacement for X-Window, Wayland is 
certainly also a big hairball; this may simply mean that it can't be 
otherwise. Same for the Linux kernel.


     But for system startup/shutdown and service supervision, there's a 
host of solutions. This also means systemd violates KISS and UNIX not by 
necessity but either by inconsideration or by intention.


     Do you think it could be a valid criteria, "Software violating GPL, 
KISS or DOTADIW is accepted only if there is no possible replacement" ?


     Didier