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| wiki:kxstudio_and_free_software [2013/06/02 15:45] – external edit 127.0.0.1 | wiki:kxstudio_and_free_software [2013/12/24 00:46] (current) – [What if I want to avoid non-free software?] wolftune |
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| ======KXStudio and Free Software====== | ======KXStudio and Free Software====== |
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| Along with its Ubuntu base and the whole GNU/Linux world, KXStudio has its roots in the [[http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html|Free Software]] movement led by Richard Stallman and the GNU project. All of the custom KXStudio tools are FLOSS, as is the vast majority of other included software. | Along with the Debian and Ubuntu base systems and the whole GNU/Linux world, KXStudio has its roots in the [[http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html|Free Software]] movement led by Richard Stallman and the GNU project. All of the custom KXStudio tools are FLOSS, as is the vast majority of other included software. |
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| As KXStudio's primary purpose is to make the installation of a GNU/Linux-based audio/visual workstation as easy as possible, a few non-free additions are included where they assist that goal. | As KXStudio's primary purpose is to make the installation of a GNU/Linux-based audio/visual workstation as easy as possible, a few non-free additions are included where they assist that goal. |
| =====Non-free software from Ubuntu===== | =====Non-free software from Ubuntu===== |
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| KXStudio is based upon Ubuntu which includes select non-free software. The Ubuntu non-free software is listed in separate repositories marked as either "non-free", "restricted", or "multiverse". See [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories|help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories]] for more information. Also, the standard Linux kernel includes some "binary blobs" — i.e. sections that have no source available (and so hamper the freedom to modify). | The current KXStudio ISO is based upon Ubuntu which includes select non-free software. The Ubuntu non-free software is listed in separate repositories marked as either "non-free", "restricted", or "multiverse". See [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories|help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories]] for more information. Also, the standard Linux kernel includes some "binary blobs" — i.e. sections that have no source available (and so hamper the freedom to modify). |
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| The main non-free software that KXStudio includes from Ubuntu is **Flash Player**. Many websites still, unfortunately, depend upon Adobe Flash, so Flash Player provides the smoothest user experience. Thankfully, the FLOSS standards Webm and HTML5 are becoming increasingly popular, and there is a FLOSS Flash-replacement called GNASH. Hopefully there will be less reason for the non-free Flash Player in the future. | The main non-free software that KXStudio includes from Ubuntu is **Flash Player**. Many websites still, unfortunately, depend upon Adobe Flash, so Flash Player provides the smoothest user experience. Thankfully, the FLOSS standards Webm and HTML5 are becoming increasingly popular, and there is a FLOSS Flash-replacement called GNASH. Hopefully there will be less need for the non-free Flash Player in the future. |
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| Ubuntu also includes some non-free codecs for accessing proprietary file formats. | Ubuntu also includes some non-free codecs for accessing proprietary file formats. |
| To remove non-free software from the package listings, choose "Configure Software Sources" under "Settings" in Muon Package Manager. There, you can uncheck the Proprietary drivers and multiverse (copyright or legally problematic) listings. On the "Other Software" tab, you can remove the Medibuntu and kxstudio.sourceforge.net repositories. | To remove non-free software from the package listings, choose "Configure Software Sources" under "Settings" in Muon Package Manager. There, you can uncheck the Proprietary drivers and multiverse (copyright or legally problematic) listings. On the "Other Software" tab, you can remove the Medibuntu and kxstudio.sourceforge.net repositories. |
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| If you want to use strictly 100% Free Software, including even the strictly-FLOSS Linux-libre kernel, consider [[http://trisquel.info/|Trisquel]], which is based on Ubuntu yet is certified by the Free Software Foundation. You can then add the main KXStudio-Team PPAs following the same [[http://kxstudio.sourceforge.net/Documentation:Ubuntu:Upgrade|instructions]] as for other Ubuntu-based systems. Although this should work, it is not officially supported at this time. | If you want to use strictly 100% Free Software, there are several options. Instead of using the KXStudio ISO, KXStudio repositories can be added to any Debian-based system (which includes all Ubuntu-related systems) and you can leave out the separate non-free KXStudio repository. Debian itself is 100% Free (unless the user chooses to install extra non-free software). Additionally, FSF-endorsed distributions [[http://trisquel.info/|Trisquel]] (based on Ubuntu) and [[http://www.gnewsense.org/|gNewSense]] (based on Debian) are also compatible with the KXStudioe repositories. Of these, only Debian is officially supported, but the others should work as well. |
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| There is also a long-term plan to potentially move the KXStudio repositories to Debian, which is more strictly FLOSS than Ubuntu (although still not FSF-approved because it provides a mechanism for users to install non-free software). | |
