Fedora Freedom and linux-libre

[max]

jeff wrote:
> Hans de Goede wrote:
>> It depends on your definition of software, according to Fedora's 
>> definitions firmware is not software it is content. I know this is a 
>> word game, but think about it, what is the definition of software?
> 
>  From the Oxford English Dictionary:
> 
> software
>     1. Computers.    a. The programs and procedures required to enable a 
> computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical 
> components of the system (see also quot. 1961).    b. esp. The body of 
> system programs, including compilers and library routines, required for 
> the operation of a particular computer and often provided by the 
> manufacturer, as opposed to program material provided by a user for a 
> specific task.
> 
> 
> I didn't realize fedora was claiming that firmware isn't software. Now 
> that is bullshit. You call it a word game, I'll call it what it is. 
> *Content??!* It's obviously software. I mean, it can be copied, it can 
> be rewritten (well, by the people in the castle with the code), it can 
> be compiled, etc... Clearly software. I guess you need a PhD to delude 
> yourself otherwise.
> 
> Usually techs are so precise, I can't believe the doublethinking here.
> 

You are starting to work against yourself. Firmware usually comes with 
my devices, it is reloadable but it comes with the device when I make 
the purchase, I don't have to load firmware into a device to make it 
work in the first place. It is part of the hardware because the hardware 
requires it to run. I thought that was why software and firmware where 
two different terms. Firmware is software but the hardware relies on it 
to function and it is included in the purchase price of the hardware. 
Software is generally acquired separately from the hardware. 
Windows(software) comes preinstalled on many computers(hardware) but I 
can remove windows and still have functional hardware but if I remove 
the BIOS , windows nor linux will run.

> Oh, and you should let Broadcom know that they aren't distributing 
> software then:
> 
>  *      Derived from proprietary unpublished source code,
> 
> 
> -Jeff
> 


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