Knoppix not free enough?

**beforewisdom** · 05-26-2003, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by eadz

Stephen are you sure?

I remember far less packages.

apt-get install vrms ( Virtual RMS ) to see what packages would be removed.

And yes, the KDE Knoppix will take the place of Knoppix KDE I imagine.

Thanks!

I had no idea this program existed and it has been a desire of mine for a long time to know what non-free stuff is on my system and minimize it as much as is comfortable.

I hope this tool gets ported. It would be great for promoting free software.

I ran it and only found 8 non-free packages. All stuff I either never heard of and/or can easily live without:

---------------------------------------------
3270-common Common files for IBM 3270 emulators
acroread Adobe Acrobat Reader: Portable Document Format file vi
giflib-bin programs to convert GIF images
giflib3g hared library for GIF images (runtime lib)
gimp1.2-nonfree GIF support for the GNU Image Manipulation Program
lha lzh archiver
unarj arj unarchive utility
x3270 X11 program for telnet sessions to IBM mainframes.
-----------------------------------------------

Steve

**beforewisdom** · 05-26-2003, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by aay

One more thing. From this post it looks like the KDE folks have built their own version of Knoppix that removes software with offending licenses. Will this KDE centric version of Knoppix take the place of what eadz has done with KnoppixKDE?

Its a good thing, isn't "KDE centeric Knoppix" a redundant term?

Steve

**beforewisdom** · 05-26-2003, 03:24 PM

I guess I don't under stand what the debate is about or the definition of "free" v. "free."

Its "free" as in "freedom".....not as "free" as in "free of charge"

Im not ranting, I am snipping this from my GNU/Linux website to save myself some keystrokes:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.geocities.com/beforewisdo...nux/index.html
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What is Free Software?

Free software is software licensed under the GNU Public License. The "free" part means freedom. The GNU Public License guarantees:

1. The freedom to run the software for any purpose.

2. The freedom to study how the software works ( with guaranteed access to the source code) and to modify the software.

3. The freedom to distribute copies of the software, for free or for a fee.

4. The freedom to improve the software and distribute the improvements to the public.

These freedoms are given to everyone under the GNU Public License.

These freedoms are important because the medium used to convey information often controls the information conveyed. Ever more information is being conveyed digitally which means software and large corporations are coming to control the information we have, as well as will have access too.

The freedoms provided by the GNU Public License can help guarantee that it will be the community that controls the flow of information ......not big corporations and not the government.

Much free software is available for no charge and is often technically superior to proprietary counterparts. The most well know example of free software is GNU/Linux.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To learn more you can go to the Free Software Foundation at
http://www.gnu.org

Steve

**garyng** · 05-29-2003, 09:46 AM

I am trying to build an all free(Woody) KNOPPIX like KDE based system, as I don't want any non-free stuff in it. It is doable but kind of redoing lots of things Klaus had done which is to iron out the dependency stuff.

Everyone says apt-get rules and I believe it does(comparing with other package management system on linux) but it still lacks a lot of feature, I have been going through the same deboostrap process for so many times(already forget how many) to just have a very basic system of Woody+Xfree86 4.3 + KDE 3.1.2 + Mozilla 1.3.

All free stuff ain't easy.

**beforewisdom** · 05-29-2003, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by garyng

I am trying to build an all free(Woody) KNOPPIX like KDE based system, as I don't want any non-free stuff in it. It is doable but kind of redoing lots of things Klaus had done which is to iron out the dependency stuff.

All free stuff ain't easy.

I must have a limited understanding of your situation.

I ran virtual rms on my copy of knoppix 3.2 ( 4/15/03 build). It came up with 8 non-free packages, all nonessential for the functioning of the system.

Knoppix is already KDE centric, not there is anything wrong with that, but I don't understand the need for your remaster. There is an abscence of an English language based Gnome centric knoppix......not that I use gnome either

Steve

**garyng** · 05-30-2003, 07:35 AM

Well, the main reason that I need to do the remastering from scratch, instead of using KNOPPIX, I want a woody based system.

**Stephen** · 05-30-2003, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by garyng

Well, the main reason that I need to do the remastering from scratch, instead of using KNOPPIX, I want a woody based system.

Have you looked at bonzai it's based on woody it used to be know as mini-woody I used it a couple of times works well haven't had time to check out the bonzai though.

**garyng** · 05-30-2003, 08:24 AM

I noticed that but it is mostly in german which I can't read. I would download and have a look later. However, just from browsing, it seems to be a standard distribution that needs installation(own linux partition etc.). What I am working on is more like KNOPPIX that I just throw the big file on a FAT/NTFS partition and loopback mount from it. Would definitely grab some idea from it, though.

thanks for the information.