On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 09:53:51 +0100, Peter Van Eynde <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> Brian Thomas Sniffen wrote:
>> Peter Van Eynde <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>>> And now you consider it software just because the method of
>>> storage is different? How can the nature of the bytes change
>>> because they are stored on a disk?
>> The nature of the bytes do not change. But my name, distributed in
>> a Debian package, is software. My name, written in letters of
>> granite
> You name is software! Now I'm a Common Lisp hacker, you know the
> data is code people, but even _we_ do not consider a string software
> unless it drives some software.
> Is your name input for a state-machine?
>> Architectural plans for a house, shipped in a Debian package, are
>> software.
> I'm stunned. So anything in a Debian package is software. With alien
> I can convert a tar.gz into a debian package, so all tar files are
> software. With tar I can create a tar.gz from any file, so all
> electronic data is software?
Yes. Software, hardware, wetware. One of these three.
> And you restrictions that any package that depends on non-DFSG
> "software" to work cannot be in main means that after releasing
> sarge we have to remove from main:
> - all bootloaders. Grub cannot start my XP without the XP
> bootsector.
Umm, you have configured grub to use optional software. Grub
on my boxes can boot my machines just fine, so there is no general
dependency.
> - tftpd. I want to netboot my Solaris machines. The tftpd needs the
> solaris code to "work".
In that case. I can have tftpd booting Linux kernels -- so
tftpd does not need solaris, though it can be so configured.
> - all font renderers. I want to see a document with the font I
> bought, and without it the document is broken, so the renderer
> needs the font, > right?
Wrong again, but that's just the patternm. The font renderer
can render any fonts, including non-free ones.
> - all interpreters. I want to run HACMP. It is in perl, so the perl
> is useless to me without HACMP.
I think you really really need a course in logic and
causation.
> - the kernel. I want to ship a stripped down debian with my non-DFSG
> code in an embedded system. The kernel is useless without my code,
> so the kernel cannot be in main.
The kernel is, in general useful without non-free software.
> Should I go on?
Sure, but preferably after you have taken some courses in
basic logic.
manoj
--
"At least they're ___________EXPERIENCED
incompetents"
Manoj Srivastava <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <http://www.debian.org/%7Esrivasta/>
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