Nishan Singh Mann <nishan.singh.m...@gmail.com> writes: > Hello, on Ubuntu 17.10 which to my knowledge is based on Debian unstable, > installing Emacs via $sudo apt install emacs and then trying to view the > Emacs manual using C-h r fails with error "Info file emacs does not > exist"
The Emacs manual is distributed subject to the GNU FDL, which imposes non-free restrictions on modification and redistribution. (Yes, it's very misleading to have non-free restrictions in a so-called “free documentation license”, but that's what the FSF have chosen.) Manoj Srivastava has summarised effectively <URL:https://people.debian.org/~srivasta/Position_Statement.xhtml> why the GNU FDL makes a work non-free. So, Emacs under condition of the GNU GPL is free, and is in Debian; but the Emacs manual under condition of the GNU FDL is non-free, so it cannot be in Debian. You can either view the manual online <URL:https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/> or get it from outside Debian (for example, the ‘non-free’ area which is not part of Debian). -- \ “Ubi dubium, ibi libertas.” (“Where there is doubt, there is | `\ freedom.”) | _o__) | Ben Finney
