Ok,

That was interesting....

Here's my thinking on the how and the why.

definition of terms:
user = the person using the installer to install Devuan.
module = linux kernel module.
hardware = reference to the particular chipset(s) in scope, be they SoC
or plug in cards or devices.
firmware = non-free binary blob that is required to be loaded by the
standard kernel module for the hardware in scope in order for the
hardware to operate.
essential: required for proper operation.


How:
****

I will build a (udeb) package called firmware-reqd that:

1) Will provide an early detection of a select list of common essential
hardware that:
a) requires a non-free firmware blob
b) is essential to make the system use-able enough to complete the
installation to a bootable state.

2) Upon detection of said hardware, I will provide a prompt informing
the user about the specific piece(s) of hardware detected that require
non-free firmware to and give them the option to load that firmware and
continue the installation or abort it at that point.

3) Only firmware meeting the above criteria will be included in the iso,
but not used or loaded unless the operator specifically chooses to do so.

4) The choice to use non-free firmware will naturally lead to the
question about whether the related firmware deb packages should be
installed during the install. I could provide an option here,
defaulting to yes but allowing deselection for those who may want to
leverage the non-free firmware only during install but not on the
running system.

Note: When non-free firmware udebs are installed by debconf my
understanding is that each of them will present the user a license upon
which is also required to be accepted before that udeb is installed.

****

Why this approach:

I agree in principle about using strictly free/libre open source
software, and where I have the choice I personaly will select hardware
that aligns with those principles.

However, I would not want my choices to become the tool that would
punish those less informed, or unable to make the sacrifices required to
comply entirely with that principle. To do so would be ungracious and
unrealistic, and boils down to elitism and puritanism.

Nevertheless, to silently let the installation of non-free firmware be
done without recognition and challenge is not right either. So I see
the most gracious approach is to inform the users and grant them the
opportunity to choose how they would like to proceed. It gives
opportunity for those who for conscience sake would refuse non-free
firmware to do so, whilst not enforcing that choice an all users.

I think that this is a reasonable approach, and once the above proposed
package is ready, it is my intention to have it included in the official
installer images we ship. Anyone that strongly objects can re-build
their own installers without the non-free firmware packages added.

If it is the resounding will of the community to absolutely not ship the
default installer with this approach, then I will withdraw from Devuan
and someone else can take over the maintenance of the packages I've been
working on.

Thanks,
    Daniel

On 03/06/15 20:37, Daniel Reurich wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'd like a straw poll on whether we should include non-free firmware in
> our installers by default.
>
> It's a deviation from Debians traditional position, but a pragmatic one
> that shows we care about the end users.
>
> Keen for feedback.
>
>


--
Daniel Reurich
Centurion Computer Technology (2005) Ltd.
021 797 722