Re: [Gnewsense-dev] Mr. S. Zacchiroli, Debian and gNS3...

[Jason Self]

> Q. (Interviewer) - Will Debian continue using as default a Linux kernel
> that integrates binary blobs and other non-free software, or do you
> think it should adopt a completely free kernel such as that of the
> Linux-libre project? [Note: This is a question I suggested to the
> ossblog.it Interviewer... ;-) ]
> 
> A. (Zacchiroli) - Debian kernel developers have worked over the years
> to separate the non-free firmware from the rest of the Linux kernel. It
> was a long job which forced us to compromise for a couple of releases.
> Today I am proud to say that the problem, starting from the next
> release of Debian Squeeze is solved (except bugs, of course, which are
> always possible!). The free firmware part of Linux is now included in
> Debian and resides in the "firmware-linux-free" package; this firmware
> is 100% compatible with the Debian Free Software Guidelines. The
> non-free firmware is not part of Debian, although it is hosted on our
> mirrors for those who wish to use it; its containing package is
> "firmware-linux-nonfree". Many people have protested for the
> compromises that indeed our developers have done in the past but,
> meanwhile, they have never stopped working towards the goal of
> separating the free firmware from the non-free.

It's fake freedom. There's no progress in Debian in moving toward freedom. All 
that they're doing is moving the non-free parts of the kernel to their non-free 
repository, where they're just an "aptitude install blah-blah-blah" away. I'm 
sure that this will also be mentioned in their documentation, so the users can 
find it and install it, and so the non-free software is still there; where it's 
located is just a detail. They need to actually get rid of it. As in delete, 
not move.