[Ambassadors] Urgent Matter

[Manuel Escudero]

2010/8/30 Ryan Rix <ry at n.rix.si>

> On Mon 30 August 2010 13:22:51 Manuel Escudero wrote:
> > I have installed Fedora 13 Goddard x86_64 in my machine and I've updated
> to
> > KDE 4.5, in order to run Skype I installed some 32 bit Qt libraries and
> > when I installed the new KDE desktop I had to remove them because KDE 4.4
> > uses the "1:4.6" version of these libraries and KDE 4.5 the "1:4.7"...
> > Now I have KDE 4.5 and everything is fine but I can't run lastest Skype
> > because it needs the "1:4.6" Qt libraries, it doesn't work with the new
> > ones, but if I remove the new ones and I replace them with
> > the older ones, many apps seem to be "downgraded" or they just don't work
> > anymore...
> > Does this mean we're not having Skype in Fedora 14 KDE Spin as it's going
> > to be based on KDE 4.5?
> >
> > Many users need skype (in my case I'm running it in a Windows 7 VM) But
> > without it we can't offer reliable "Videocalls" as they're not
> implemented
> > in IM Clients Linux have.
>
> So, a few things here...
>
> This isn't Ambassadors material, please keep it either on the users@ list
> or
> (probably better) the kde@ list, where most KDE and Qt issues are handled.
> This is most definitely not the place for it, "urgent" or not.
>
> Skype is indeed NOT going to be on the Fedora 14 KDE Spin as it is non-Free
> software. From my PoV, it's harmful for Ambassadors to promote the use of
> this
> software as it encourages lock in to proprietary applications and (probably
> worse) proprietary protocols. Also, as you can see by your mail, using
> proprietary applications can be more than a "philosophical" issue, given
> the
> breakage you caused yourself by installing it. Imagine telling a new user
> how
> to do this, and realizing they have just broken or messed up their
> installation. Does it really put our distribution in a positive light? You
> should be encouraging users to embrace Free solutions such as Ekiga
> softphone,
> Pidgin and other SIP-based solutions which can be properly packaged for our
> distribution.
>
> Lastly, Qt is supposed to be backwards compatible, meaning that
> applications
> compiled in Qt 4.6 are supposed to work in Qt 4.7, etc... If you have
> encountered a regression, file a bug at Nokia's Qt bug tracker[1], and let
> the
> KDE Fedora list know of the issue. This is not the place to discuss such
> issues.
>
> [1]: http://bugreports.qt.nokia.com/
>
> --
> Ryan Rix
> == http://hackersramblings.wordpress.com | http://rix.si/ ==
> == http://rix.si/page/contact/ if you need a word         ==
>
> --
> ambassadors mailing list
> ambassadors at lists.fedoraproject.org
> https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/ambassadors
>

Well, I know about the free alternatives, what I'm discussing here is that
many users USE SKYPE. We have free software but we can't tell those users
who use skype: CANCEL YOUR SKYPE ACCOUNT BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE FREE. We, as
ambassadors, are supposed to help the user and this is an issue that is
going to affect many skype users in fedora 14 KDE unless someone finds a
solution.

Yes, we have free software, but tell me: Any of our free software supports
skype's protocol? The answer is NO. and by "demonizing" skype's use you're
commiting fanaticism... If GNU/LINUX and OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE is what
matters to you, change to UTUTO or GNEWSENSE as Fedora isn't considered
COMPLETELY OPEN SOURCE by the Gnu Foundation.

I'm not gonna continue arguing... I'm open to solutions, not "empty
opinions"

And for me, it's sad that some ambassadors are not thinking in the future of
the user... This is not the way to win "ground" in technologies battle...

-- 
<-Manuel Escudero->
Linux User #509052
@GWave: jmlevick at googlewave.com
@Blogger: http://www.blogxenode.tk/ (Xenode Systems Blog)
PGP/GnuPG: DAE3 82E9 D68E 7AE4 ED31  1F8F 4AF4 D00C 50E7 ABC6
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