Re: [gNewSense-users] more on firefox and one possible fix]

[Bake Timmon]

Andrew Wigglesworth <address@hidden> writes:

> What should gNS associate itself with?  That's easy to answer, free software.
>
> The use of Ubuntu should not be brought down to some whimsical take on this 
> weeks news.  It should be a technical decision on what is best for producing 
> a 100% free software GNU/Linux distribution from free software on limited 
> resources.
>
> Both Debian and Ubuntu distribute non-free software, and I'm not interested 
> in 
> a bunfight between factions of Debian and Ubuntu users.  The parts of Ubuntu 
> that are used ARE Free Software and ARE well supported with security patches 
> etc by Ubuntu. 
>
> I understand that there were many reasons for the use of Ubuntu Dapper, not 
> least of which must have been the need to make some sort of decision where to 
> start in the first place.  Would you have started with Debian Sarge (you 
> know, XFree86 4.3 etc) that was already over a year old (and feature frozen 
> well before that) in July 2006?
>
> I don't think we should use gNS itself as a weapon in the internal disputes 
> in 
> other GNU/Linux distributions, it would bring us ill will for no real gain.  
> The very existence of gNS and it's firm stance on Free Software is enough.
>
> We need to increase the technical abilities of our community, create our own 
> documentation and many other things, not be diverted into fruitless arguments 
> over which is the prettiest shade of grey.
>

Thanks for your explanation.  I too am uninterested in weapons,
bunfights, factions, etc.

I still believe that not choosing Debian is a missed opportunity: I
have run Debian unstable and experimental since the late nineties with
excellent stability and uptime.  I see no reason why gns would not
benefit from such a *structure* that clearly surpasses Ubuntu in both
currency and variety of packages.  And this is just the lesser concern.

OTOH, nothing is perfect, this is an implementation detail that gns
principles can overcome, the existence and stance of gNS is enough as
you say, so I accept your priorities and will be more optimistic.

Thanks again,
Bake