Re: [gNewSense-users] gnewsense vs ubuntu

[Sam Geeraerts]

Gaspar Núñez schreef:
> I already know that gnew sense eliminates all non-free stuff
> but i mean besides that, for example:
>
> can i install and use software like GAMS, R, SPSS, etc.?

I believe GAMS and SPSS are non-free software. They are, obviously, not 
provided by gNewSense. gNewSense does not inhibit the installation and 
use of software that is not in its repository, even if it's non-free. 
But as a community we strongly advise against the use of non-free 
software [1]. Why would you choose a free operating system and then run 
non-free software on it, anyway?

If you feel that software like GNU R, PSPP (both are in the gNewSense 
repository) and others are missing features you would like to have, 
please inform the respective developers about that. Or better yet, 
contribute code, documentation, bug triaging or any other help you can 
give to the projects.

You can also write to the companies that develop GAMS and SPSS to ask 
them to make their software free. Explain to them why that is the right 
thing to do and emphasize your words by stating your actions (not 
using/recommending their software and moving to gNewSense). Ask them if 
they would consider contributing to GNU or other free software.

[1] http://wiki.gnewsense.org/Main/CommunityGuidelines