Re: an appreciably toned-down and much less arrogant and grandiose draft

[Craig Sanders <cas@muffin.pronet.com>]

Looks mostly good so far.

Here's some suggested changes.  I'm not going to be offended if you
don't like them :-)

On Thu, 25 Apr 1996, Bruce Perens wrote:

>                     Debian: The Linux Base System
>                        Beta Test Announcement
> 
> Debian is a free-software Linux system. It is entirely free to use and
> re-distribute, and there is no consortium membership or payment
> required to participate in its distribution and development. The
> development organization is non-profit. Debian is an excellent

"...excellent full-featured..."

> stand-alone Linux system. It is also a base upon which value-added
> Linux distributions should be built. By providing a standard base for

s/should/can/

> these systems, we hope to provide Linux users with increased

s/we hope to provide/Debian provides/

> compatibility, and to provide Linux distribution creators with a robust

s/to provide//

> system that allows them to add value to differentiate their own
> distributions while reducing the expense caused by duplication of
> effort.

insert: "Debian allows distribution creators to focus on the things that
make their distribution special, by providing them with a reliable,
full-featured base system"


[...deleted...]

> Questions and Answers
> 
> Q: How should Debian be compared to other Linux systems?
> 

> A: The system is as good as the most professional Linux distributions.
> We consider Red Hat to be the best other than us, we like them and talk
> to them reasonably often, and we think we're comparable to their
> system. One major difference between us and Red Hat is that Red Hat is
> a for-profit business, and Debian is a non-profit organization. Both
> distributions share a dedication to free software. We hope to work
> together with other Linux developers such as Red Hat rather than compete
> with them.

replace with something like:

	A: Debian is at least as good as any other Linux distribution, even the
	most professional.  Debian's most important feature is it's package
	system, which allows the entire system, or any individual component,
	to be up-graded in place without reformatting, without losing custom
	configuration files, and (in most cases) without rebooting the system.

	Red Hat, which we consider to be the best non-Debian system available,
	is the only other distribution with a similar upgrade mechanism.  One
	major difference between us and Red Hat is that Red Hat is a for-profit
	business, and Debian is a non-profit organization. Both distributions
	share a dedication to free software.

	Debian's aim is to work together with other Linux developers such as Red
	Hat rather than compete with them.  Debian's package system allows them
	to take our system as a base, focus their development efforts on their
	own special feature (freeware or commercial) packages, confident in the
	knowledge that the Debian team are keeping the core system up to date
	and bug free.

** not sure about the following paragraph.  Needs work.  Or needs to be
** deleted.

	Debian's adherence to the FSSTND and it's package system will, if widely
	adopted, ensure complete compatibility between Linux distributions.  In
	the long run, it may be possible for a Linux user to install a Debian
	system for free and then download or purchase value-added products from
	several other distribution makers.  Users will no longer have to choose
	between the best features of two competing distributions, they will have
	the freedom to choose both.

** Actually, maybe the preceding two paragraphs should be lifted out,
** expanded, and put in a "Q. What is the Debian vision?" section.
** Describing the benefits of dpkg etc...that we take for granted
** because we're used to it and can see the possibilities, but that
** non-debiants probably wont see unless it's highlighted.


[...deleted...]


> Q: Can Debian be packaged with non-free software?
>
> A: Yes. While all the main components of Debian are free software,
> we provide a non-free directory for programs that aren't freely
> redistributable, and CD manufacturers may be able to distribute the
> programs we've placed in that directory, depending on their license
> terms with the authors of those software packages. CD manufacturers
> can also distribute the non-free software they get from other sources
> on the same CD. This is nothing new: GPL-ed and commercial software
> are distributed on the same CD by many manufacturers now.  We still
> encourage software authors to release the programs they write as free
> software.

needs more info describing how debian is split up into "free" (GPL, BSD,
Artistic license or public domain packages), and "non-free" (restricted
licenses) sections.  Commercial distributors can use all of the "free"
section, but may have to negotiate directly with the individual authors
of the packages in "non-free" section.

Might also be worth pointing out that commercial distributors who do not
do this, or who are otherwise prevented from distributing one or more
non-free packages can include a pointer to ftp.debian.org:/.../non-free
in their documentation.  Their users can then download the package files
and install them using dpkg.

(make it easy for them? a script or a special version of dftp which does
this automatically?)


Craig