{{Header}} {{title|title= {{project_name_long}} Policy On Non-Freedom Software }} {{#seo: |description=Permitted / Prohibited Discussions, Project Philosophy on Non-Freedom Software, GNU Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG) |image=Shield123123213.png }} [[File:Shield123123213.png|250px|thumb]] {{intro| Permitted / Prohibited Discussions, Project Philosophy on Non-Freedom Software, GNU Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG) }} __FORCETOC__ = Introduction = The {{project_name_short}} project is a Freedom Software project. ([[Reasons for Freedom Software|Why?]]) {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col"| '''Category''' ! scope="col"| '''Description''' |- | Amount of Freedom Software contained inside {{project_name_short}} VM images | 100% |- | Amount of {{project_name_short}} source code under Freedom Software licenses | 100% |- | Installed default non-freedom software packages inside [[Download|downloadable]] {{project_name_short}} VM images | none |- | Non-freedom source code inside {{project_name_short}} source code | none |- |} {{project_name_short}} recommends to [[Avoid_nonfreedom_software|Avoid Non-Freedom Software]] and will not bundle any unnecessary, major non-freedom software software components or contribute to these. = Platform Specific = {{project_name_short}} supports multiple virtualizers. VirtualBox is one among them. For VirtualBox specific Freedom Software issues vs non-issues, see {{kicksecure_wiki |wikipage=Dev/VirtualBox#VirtualBox_Open_Source_vs_Closed_Source |text=VirtualBox Open Source vs Closed Source }}. = Policy on Non-Freedom Software = '''Table:''' ''{{project_name_short}} Policy on Non-Freedom Software'' {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col"| '''Category''' ! scope="col"| '''Description''' |- ! scope="row"| Permitted Topics | * Helping users who ask about non-freedom software; for example - "How do I use Wickr?" Answer: "See the [[Wickr]] wiki page." * Community-contributed documentation about popular non-freedom software such as [[VMware]] and Hyper-V. * Discussions about Freedom Software that do or might contain [[Miscellaneous Threats to User Freedom]], for example that rely on Non-Freedom server software such as the [[Telegram]] Client (Freedom Software) that requires connections to the Telegram server (Non-Freedom Software). * Discussion about Freedom Software alternatives to non-freedom software; for example - "What's a Libre alternative to team viewer?" Answer: "See the [[Remote Administration]] wiki page." * Running {{project_name_short}} on top of non-freedom operating systems such as [[Windows]] and [[macOS]]. * Non-freedom [[Firmware Security and Updates]] and [[Firmware_Security_and_Updates#Processor_Microcode_Updates|Processor Microcode Updates]]. |- ! scope="row"| Prohibited Topics | * Unsolicited recommendations of non-freedom applications; for example - "How do I use remote support?" Answer: "Use anydesk" (prohibited). * Debates about the features and security of closed vs Open Source Software are unwelcome. |- ! scope="row"| Contributions to Non-Freedom Software | * Examples include Non-freedom software hypervisors such as VMware https://forums.whonix.org/t/vmware-maintainer/9239 and Hyper-V. * Must be hosted without references to the {{project_name_short}} [[Trademark Policy|trademark]] and website. |- ! scope="row"| Non-Freedom Firmware for upcoming [[{{project_name_short}}-Host]] | The current [[Dev/nonfree|position on nonfreedom software]]: * Mostly theoretic since it will take a long time until {{project_name_short}}-Host will be released. * [https://forums.whonix.org/t/whonix-host-nonfree-blobs-firmware-linux-nonfree-technical-discussion-only/7356 non-freedom firmware technical-only forum discussion] * [https://forums.whonix.org/t/whonix-host-nonfree-blobs-firmware-linux-nonfree/7251 non-freedom software project philosophy discussion] |- ! scope="row"| Policy Rationale | This policy has been devised for the following reasons: * Avoiding endless, circular and non-productive debates. * Clearly defining the {{project_name_short}} project philosophy. * [[Avoid_nonfreedom_software|Avoiding Non-Freedom Software]] * [[Reporting_Bugs#Community_Feedback|Community Feedback Policy]] * Brand protection - the {{project_name_short}} project is known to be a Freedom Software project that routes all communications over the [[Tor]] network. It is undesirable to harm this brand by bundling it with unnecessary non-freedom software components. |- |} = GNU FSDG Free System Distribution Guidelines = [https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html GNU project's Free GNU/Linux distributions page] lists the GNU/Linux distributions that are entirely free as in freedom. It however lists only operating systems primarily run as host operating system. Until the first stable version of [[Whonix-Host]] gets available, this is one reason {{project_name_short}} cannot fully comply with [https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.en.html Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG)] and can therefore cannot yet be added to the list. ([https://forums.whonix.org/t/whonix-and-free-system-distribution-guidelines-gnu-fsdg/5877 forum discussion]). To understand the following table with GNU FSDG requirements and the self-assessment by {{project_name_short}}, the reader must probably read the GNU project's [https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.en.html Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG)] first. '''Table:''' ''GNU FSDG Self-Assessment by {{project_name_short}}'' {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col"| '''GNU FSDG Requirement''' ! scope="col"| '''Self-Assessment by {{project_name_short}}''' |- | Complete Distros | This is not possible because {{project_name_short}} is primarily run inside virtual machines while GNU's list only lists host operating systems. |- | All information for practical use in a free distribution must be available in source form. | Passed. |- | The information, and the source, must be provided under an appropriate free license. | Passed. |- | A free system distribution must not steer users towards obtaining any nonfree information for practical use, or encourage them to do so. | A few popularly requested applications such as [[Wickr]] are documented but discouraged in documentation. |- | The system should have no repositories for nonfree software | {{project_name_short}} is based on Debian. The contrib and nonfree repository is enabled by default for better usability but no packages from these repositories are ever installed by default as per policy. ([https://forums.whonix.org/t/adding-non-freedom-contrib-non-free-apt-repositories-by-default-is-it-safe/3300 forum discussion]) |- | The system no specific recipes for installation of particular nonfree programs | A few popularly requested applications such as [[Wickr]] are documented but discouraged in documentation. |- | Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) | Passed. There is no built-in DRM. |- | Nonfree Firmware | Passed. See above chapter. |- | Trademarks | Passed. See [[Trademark Policy]]. |- | All the documentation in a free system distribution must be released under an appropriate free license. | Passed. |- | Additionally, it must take care not to recommend nonfree software. | Nonfreedom-software is discouraged. |- | Patents | Passed. |- | No Malware | Passed. |- | Commitment to Correct Mistakes | Yes. |- | distribution should be actively maintained | Passed. |- | Name Confusion | Passed, there is no name confusion. |- | Please Teach Users about Free Software | Passed. |- | Please Avoid Repeating Propaganda and Confusion | Passed. |- | Issues inherited from Debian | Since [[About#Based_on _Debian|{{project_name_short}} is based on Debian]], it inherits all FSDG issues that Debian is affected by. LibrePlanet has a [https://libreplanet.org/wiki/List_of_software_that_does_not_respect_the_Free_System_Distribution_Guidelines long list of Debian FSDG issues]. That list however seems was last updated a few years ago. Many of the linked issues are actually resolved as per the replies by Debian Developers. For further determination, as a first step, a contributor would have to update that list and remove the already resolved issues. |- |} = See Also = * [[Reasons for Freedom Software|Why {{project_name_short}} is Freedom Software]] * [[Warning#Unsubstantiated_Conclusions|Unsubstantiated Conclusions]] * [[Avoid_nonfreedom_software|Avoid Non-Freedom Software]] * [[Miscellaneous Threats to User Freedom]] * Forum discussion: [https://forums.whonix.org/t/whonix-policy-on-non-freedom-software/10066 {{project_name_short}} Policy On Non-Freedom Software] * [[Dev/nonfree|non-freedom, proprietary, closed source firmware, CPU microcode and drivers]] = Footnotes = {{reflist|close=1}} {{Footer}} [[Category:Documentation]]