Know of any AUR's that follow the FSF guidelines?

stream303 · 2009-04-16 09:28:37

I like to follow the FSF guidelines for free software, and absolutely love ArchLinux. What I am wondering is if anyone is aware of any AUR's that follow the FSF that may provide libre-kernels, Gnuzilla IceCat etc? Perhaps even a script that can scan the current system and point out possible non-free components?

I try to run as much free-as-in-freedom software as I can, and wonder if there are any like-minded Archers out there.

I am aware and have run gNewSense and others like Mandriva-free in the past, but would like to duplicate this effort with Arch. I have no problem with replacing hardware that doesn't work or using workarounds from companies that are not supportive of Linux in the true sense.

Yep, I can grab these various sources and compile it myself, or just install the binaries, but would love to make a small adjustment to my mirrorlist to get libre-kernels, icecat, etc automatically - if there are any to be found.

Gnuzilla Icecat:
http://www.gnu.org/software/gnuzilla/

Libre-kernels:
http://www.fsfla.org/svnwiki/selibre/linux-libre/

My intent here is to see if there are any like-minded enthusiasts for an Arch/FSF AUR, and not really any sort of political statement best left discussed elsewhere.

While I can take some simple steps with the above, I don't have the FSF-expertise in all the areas or to be able to keep up all the new stuff that may turn out to be not-free, and an AUR of enthusiasts might just fit the bill.

The only thing that a fsf "purist" might object to is that with Arch, it is easy to include non-free repositories by merely editing a file, but that would kind of defeat the purpose of an Arch/fsf AUR anyway - I think we'd be smarter than that.

Yeah, I know it is a classic case of "I wish YOU would do it for me". Maybe I can start out with compiling IceCat and move from there....

Last edited by stream303 (2009-04-16 09:38:26)

SamC · 2009-04-16 12:23:11

Please use the AUR search. For example, a PKGBUILD for icecat is already available.

Allan · 2009-04-16 18:10:27

stream303 wrote:

Yeah, I know it is a classic case of "I wish YOU would do it for me". Maybe I can start out with compiling IceCat and move from there....

That is about the only way things get done around here... If you are really concerned about this, then start doing it yourself.

stream303 · 2009-04-16 18:27:06

Ok, looks like I just got the motivation needed to move forward with it. I'll let you know how it goes.

stream303 · 2009-04-17 07:37:18

Oh SNAP! That was easy.

Icecat 3.0.8 running just fine on my X86_64 box. Major kudos to UnbreakableMJ (and others) for maintaining them. (although I see a new maintainer is requested).

Video driver - check
Icecat - check
Kernel cleaning - todo!

You guys just lit my fire. Thanks!

hrobeers · 2009-04-17 14:12:31

Building packages on Arch is easy! One of the things I love Arch for.

I like the FSF ideas! But it's too difficult to live without the propretary software.
But like Stallman sais: this makes us WEAK!

Adobe could say one day on another (for the flashplugin): "fuck the linux users" just like all the hardware manufacturers can.

The most important thing is to be aware of that and spread the word and make the society aware of the domination. Problem is that almost nobody knows how a computer works.

But do you realise what you all need to remove if you really want a free software computer??? (just a small and incomplete list):
-flashplugin
-all prop. audio and video codecs (including mp3 and divx)
-....

I can't really imagine myself using a computer without these. But I try, my music is ripped in ogg.

stream303 · 2009-04-17 19:25:58

hrobeers wrote:

Building packages on Arch is easy! One of the things I love Arch for.

Sure is! That AUR of Icecat was fantastic. I even got to love ABS and rebuilt my video driver just for fun.

I like the FSF ideas! But it's too difficult to live without the propretary software.
But like Stallman sais: this makes us WEAK!

I'll have to find that quote, but at the end of the day it all comes down to what YOU think. Basically it is a personal decision, and not one of hero-worship. You may see some zealotry out there, but as can be seen with the FSF's involvement with the recent relicensing of GLX to protect your freedom of use and distribution, results are usually achieved when cooler heads prevail.

But do you realise what you all need to remove if you really want a free software computer??? (just a small and incomplete list):
-flashplugin
-all prop. audio and video codecs (including mp3 and divx)

While the focus is on software, the point of protecting your freedom via software is to protect your right to use, share, and redistribute it. In other words, if you shared your Linux installation iso with a friend a year ago, if someone wanted to play hardball, they could litigate against you based on the old GLX license. Or a more likely scenario is if you had put Linux into place on 10,000 of your companies servers, and suddenly find a knock from lawyers at your door based on the old GLX license.

So yes, much of it has to do with getting hardware manufacturers to cooperate with Linux developers, but another factor is to examine the licensing, much of it written back during the 80's proprietary *nix-wars, that could prove problematic in today's litigious patent system.

Last edited by stream303 (2009-04-17 19:28:20)

Arch Linux

#1 2009-04-16 09:28:37

Know of any AUR's that follow the FSF guidelines?

#2 2009-04-16 12:23:11

Re: Know of any AUR's that follow the FSF guidelines?

#3 2009-04-16 18:10:27

Re: Know of any AUR's that follow the FSF guidelines?

#4 2009-04-16 18:27:06

Re: Know of any AUR's that follow the FSF guidelines?

#5 2009-04-17 07:37:18

Re: Know of any AUR's that follow the FSF guidelines?

#6 2009-04-17 14:12:31

Re: Know of any AUR's that follow the FSF guidelines?

#7 2009-04-17 19:25:58

Re: Know of any AUR's that follow the FSF guidelines?

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