Fedora Freedom and linux-libre

jeff moe at blagblagblag.org
Mon Jun 16 07:07:39 UTC 2008


Hans de Goede wrote:
> It depends on your definition of software, according to Fedora's 
> definitions firmware is not software it is content. I know this is a 
> word game, but think about it, what is the definition of software?

 From the Oxford English Dictionary:

software
     1. Computers.    a. The programs and procedures required to enable a 
computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical components of 
the system (see also quot. 1961).    b. esp. The body of system programs, 
including compilers and library routines, required for the operation of a 
particular computer and often provided by the manufacturer, as opposed to 
program material provided by a user for a specific task.


I didn't realize fedora was claiming that firmware isn't software. Now that is 
bullshit. You call it a word game, I'll call it what it is. *Content??!* It's 
obviously software. I mean, it can be copied, it can be rewritten (well, by the 
people in the castle with the code), it can be compiled, etc... Clearly 
software. I guess you need a PhD to delude yourself otherwise.

Usually techs are so precise, I can't believe the doublethinking here.


Oh, and you should let Broadcom know that they aren't distributing software then:

  *      Derived from proprietary unpublished source code,


-Jeff




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