Re: (Really) Free Software future

[Jesse Gibbons]

On Mon, 2019-10-14 at 18:52 +0200, Svante Signell wrote:
> On Mon, 2019-10-14 at 12:13 -0400, Paul Smith wrote:
> > On Mon, 2019-10-14 at 12:07 +0200, Svante Signell wrote:
> > > Perhaps we should divide free software into two groups: 1) Really
> > > free software where Freedom 1 applies and 2) not-so-free software
> > > where Freedom 1 does no longer applies.
> > > 
> > > Here gnome and systemd are in the second kind.
> > 
> > Both GNOME and systemd are fully free software that support all four
> > freedoms, including freedom 1.
> 
> Still, I think we need to differentiate between Really Free Software
> and Not-So-Free Software. Maybe even to add one more freedom: For
> example adding a, non-commercial, non-lock-in, non-proprietary, *NIX
> and KISS-friendly, clause. Software development is nowadays too vendor
> driven (and purposely made complicated), ruling out contributions from
> people not employed by companies working full-time. 
> 
> > > Especially systemd, even if GPLed, is currently swallowing most of
> > > free software excluding large groups of people to make
> > > contributions.
> > 
> > Neither excluding upstream contributions nor "swallowing" other free
> > software projects violate any of the four freedoms.
> > 
> > As long as you are able to run the program, access the source code,
> > modify the source code as you like, and distribute both the original
> > and your modifications to others, then your freedoms are preserved.
> 
> See above. A redefinition of free software is really needed,
> independent of RMS being leader of GNU or not. And funding for Really
> Free Software can be steered by FSF towards the goal of Really Free
> Software, leaving non-complying companies out of funding. (whoever will
> take the lead of FSF after RMS).
> 
> I'd really like RMS to reply on these issues, adding him to this email
> recipients too.
> 
> Thanks!
> 

Free software is about end-user freedom, and has nothing to do with the
ability to push upstream. The distinction "really free" vs "not so free"
looks to me like an appeal to purity[0].

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman


I no longer see how this is relevant to guix-devel.