Re:Theo de Raadt on LLVM license change
by Koshkin on Saturday October 01, 2016 @02:04PM
(#12619081)
But the distinction between the hardware design and software is blurry. What about microcode? What about designs targeting FPGAs? A basic idea in modern systems design, in fact, is that there is no preconceived notion about where hardware should end and software should begin.
Re:Theo de Raadt on LLVM license change
by icebraining on Saturday October 01, 2016 @02:43PM
(#12619274)
The FSF draws a line that I find interesting (if not necessarily my own): whether it can be updated with a new version. If not, then it's equivalent to a circuit, and it's not as important that it be Free (though it must be non-malicious).
> Also, if it is completely OK for hardware design to be proprietary, why should it not be OK for software?
Personally I also have an issue with hardware designs being proprietary, but because we still have issues with software I prefer to spend my energy on the issue we've had better traction on.
> What is so special about it?
The big difference between hardware and software is that software can be in principle changed, modified and updated by the end user without too much hassle. Hardware cannot be practically modified (have you ever tried to modify a chip?). And hardware designs are useless to most users, because they'd need to have someone fab the components for them. However, every user has someone they know who knows how to program, and thus they can practically take advantage of the freedoms that they ought to have a right to.
> If you want to use Debian, for instance, you are pretty much forced to use "non-free" repositories (or a "non-free" Debian re-distribution) for your setup to be useful.
This is simply untrue. I use openSUSE Tumbleweed and have no issues with the proprietary repositories removed. I cannot comment on Debian, but I know a few people who use Debian without the universe repositories enabled. What precisely is "forcing" you to use non-free software? Maybe you should reconsider who you're blaming for that, and maybe try removing that proprietary garbage from your life.