On Mon 01 Mar 2021 at 11:29:57 +0200, Andrei POPESCU wrote: > On Du, 28 feb 21, 12:03:31, Celejar wrote: > > > > Snark aside, what's wrong with something like this: > > > > "Many wireless network cards (and even some wired ones) require > > non-free firmware to function properly. This firmware is not included > > in the standard installation images, due to Debian's free software > > ideals. If the network hardware your installation will rely upon > > requires such firmware, you may consider using the alternate non-free > > installation images available here." > > For those who didn't visit the Debian website recently, following the > discussion on debian-devel this is now two clicks away from the home > page (-> More... -> Download: More variants of Debian images): > > https://www.debian.org/distrib/ > > If any of the hardware in your system requires non-free firmware to > be loaded with the device driver, you can use one of the tarballs of > common firmware packages or download an unofficial image including > these non-free firmwares. > > Instructions how to use the tarballs and general information about > loading firmware during an installation can be found in the > Installation Guide. > > unofficial installation images for "stable" with firmware included
The page https://www.debian.org/distrib/ is entitled "Getting Debian". And what is Debian? asks a user. The answer is at https://www.debian.org/intro/philosophy > The Debian Project is an association of individuals who have made > common cause to create a **free** operating system. (Emphasis is mine). Then, at the bottom of https://www.debian.org/distrib/, we see an advert to download an unofficial image of the installer. "unofficial" is mealy- mouthed. What is meant is "non-free". What it says is "Hey, we have a better installation image for you but we had to sneak it in here because of the Debian thing" :). The Installer is the Jewel in the Crown of Debian. Tainting it and having it competing is a new development. I am all for being pragmatic, but usurping the Installer's status appears a step too far. -- Brian.
