Edmund GRIMLEY EVANS wrote: > Branden Robinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > >> I put xtrs in contrib because without the ROM (or a DFSG-free OS for the >> TRS-80 Model 4P, which doesn't exist or at the very least isn't >> packaged), the only thing it will do is display an error message that no >> ROM was found. >> >> My thinking is that we need to not be pulling any bait-and-switches on >> our >> users. If I were to "apt-get install xtrs" from main, I'd expect it to >> do something more than throw up an error message. >> >> In summary, the decision to put emulators that are largely or completely >> inoperable without supplementary materials (from non-free, or not >> provided by Debian at all), is not wholly compelled by the "100% Free >> Software" >> portion of the Social Contract. It's also motivated by the "We will be >> guided by the needs of our users" part. > > Could you explain how you think the "emulator and ROM" situation is > different from the "media player and media file" situation, if you > think it is? > > Does Debian main contain any MP3s? If not, would you like to see MP3 > players removed from Debian main?
Debian main does contain MP3 recorders. I think that is quite sufficient to render MP3 players useful with no non-free software; you can make your own MP3s. > As for "bait-and-switch", why not include a warning in the package > description that you will need a ROM image to use the emulator? Seems awfully 'contrib' to me. Remember that everything in 'contrib' is free software; it's just unusable without non-free software. -- There are none so blind as those who will not see.
