[Xorg] Xfree86 4.4 vs Xorg Wrap-up

Francois Isabelle isabellf at sympatico.ca
Fri Mar 26 04:44:49 PST 2004


- sorry for the noise, I'm not sure if I send this on the right lists.

Hi,
   I know that some diggup would probably tell me everything I want to
know, but I'm not sure if past posts still represent the current
positions and I want a clear picture of the *actual* situation.


Is that what's happening ?
1 - XFree86 changed licensing, which introduced some GPL compatibility
issues and some deviations to debian DFSG(debian free software
guidelines).
2 - Some are arguing that the new licensing is NOT GPL incompatible, but
nobody argues that it is not deviating from DFSG
3 - Xorg forked XFree86 due to these licensing considerations
4 - Debian will NOT include XFree86 4.4 components 
5 - Other Linux's distributions MIGTH include Xfree86 4.4
6 - Other Linux's distributions WILL include Xorg
7 - Debian MIGHT include Xorg, MIGHT include XFree86 4.4 in non-free or
similar

8 - End users / developpers / distribution packagers WILL end up
confused, free software activist will end up frustrated and I WILL NOT
understand why this FORK took place anyway.

I see some mail traffic, stating that Xorg will replace XFree86 ( not
necessarily *official* lists ) , I don't know, I don't like this fork.

Especially, 
	- I'm not sure they have sufficient resources to provide the quality
level we've come to expect from the XFree86 team.
	- I think a FORK is a really bad thing especially on projects
that large, how can contributors enhance BOTH projects... wasted work I
beleive.
	- Even if free software is taking up over proprietary stuff, there are
external forces that are hitting free software day after day, why MUST
the free software community hit itself from the INSIDE ?

Please, correct me if I'm wrong. But don't spend too much time on point
'8' , I know I'm right about this one.


Thank you

-- 
Francois Isabelle            		
isabellf at sympatico.ca        	        
http://francoisisabelle.org/isabellf-key.asc (pgp key)



P.S	
=== Xorg resources ....
I think Xorg "mailman" is running out of hd space ... (tried to
subscribe)

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/var/lib/mailman/Mailman/LockFile.py", line 424, in __write
    fp.close()
IOError: [Errno 28] No space left on device
===



-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: signature.asc
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 189 bytes
Desc: Ceci est une partie de message num?riquement sign?e.
URL: <http://lists.x.org/archives/xorg/attachments/20040326/fe445d2c/attachment.pgp>


More information about the xorg mailing list