On Wed, May 30, 2001 at 09:02:38PM -0600, Simmons-Davis wrote:
> Dear Debian Group,
>
> I would like to know exactly what purpose the source cds serve and who would
> need to use them. I will only be using Debian for things like word
> processing, email, the internet, etcetera and wouldn't be doing any
> development or performing any major alterations to the debian distribution.
> My question then is do you think that I have any need for purchasing the
> source cds along with the main cds?
>
> Thank you for your time,
> Ry
The license for most of the programs released with Debian (the GNU
General Public License, or GPL) is
designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute
copies of free software (and charge for this service if you
wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want
it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in
new free programs; and that you know you can do these things.
This is why there are source CDs. You don't need them if you're not
going to use them, but the software licenses stipulate that Debian
must make them available.
Rob
--
Diplomacy is about surviving until the next century. Politics is about
surviving until Friday afternoon.
-- Sir Humphrey Appleby
