[gobolinux-users] Firefox up to date

[MJ Ray]

Sean Russell <gobo at ser1.net> asked:
> Is there any reason that non-OpenSource software can't have a recipe in 
> Gobo?  Assuming that it is free as in "free beer", then where's the 
> restriction?  Or is this a different discussion, about dogma?

In reverse order:
- It's a discussion about making gobo the best possible.
- The restriction is that you cannot modify the Mozilla builds.
- If we use the Mozilla-made binaries, it's pretty clear what we
  lose (freedom to bugfix promptly) but the only gain I see (avoid
  a compile until someone uploads a binary package) is minor.

Why include an unmodifiable Firefox browser when we can include
a free software Firefox browser?

This is similar to a problem I had with the 013 package list:
Why include the anti-commercial AFPL Ghostscript when the free
software GPL Ghostscript is the same version just now?

Maybe in a few cases, there's a strong argument for non-free
software, but why include non-free software that's based on
free software and almost identical to it? 8-/

Best wishes,
-- 
MJ Ray - see http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html
North End, Lynn, Norfolk, England
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