On Mon, 29 Sep 2008, J Cruit wrote: >> His idea is not that FreBSD "contains non-free software" (what you >> wrote) it's much more pedantic than that -- it's that FreeBSD's "ports >> system does suggest non-free programs." >> >> Apparently, the FreeBSD supporters make a big issue of it, but really >> all Stallman is doing is saying that he doesn't recommend FreeBSD for >> that reason. If they want him to recommend it, they'll have to change >> it. It's not that he is doing something wrong. His thing is to promote >> free software, and he can do that better by not recommending FreeBSD. >> He isn't attacking FreeBSD, he's just not recommending it. >> >> Mike > > So he wants FreeBSD to restrict and close off the system to limit what > people can do with it? Umm.. what? > > I guess that is perhaps the difference between free and open? He wants the FreeBSD ports system to suggest only free software programs and never to suggest a proprietary program. That makes sense to me. My understanding is that Stallman's approach would not prevent a FreeBSD user from downloading and installing a proprietary program. Apparently it now lists options for users who are thinking of installing something and it lists both proprietary and FOSS programs. Mike