Re: What is GNU ELPA?

[Alfred M. Szmidt]

   > We take this issue very seriously, so we have a rule not to say
   > anything that might suggest the use of nonfree software.  We
   > don't mention the existence of a program if it can't be used in
   > the Free World.  See the GNU Coding standards in
   > gnu.org/prep/standards, node References.

   But the situation here is twice removed. MELPA itself is libre
   software.  All packages there are libre as well. Some small
   minority integrate with non-free software, but that is it.

And that is enough to cause a problem, there are several programs that
are free software which are not included in the Free Software
Directory for example because of that reason.

Another issue is that MELPA is it is hosted on Gitblob, that requires
users to run non-free Javascript, that is another problem making it
unsuitable to reference in any GNU website.

   We don't shy away from mentioning e.g. MS Windows, and the vast
   majority of software for it is proprietary.

When we mention Windows, we mention it in passing, we don't give it
legitimacy.

This is all well explained in
https://www.gnu.org/prep/standards/standards.html#References .