{{Header}} {{#seo: |description=Permitted / Prohibited Discussions, Project Philosophy on Non-Freedom Software. |image=Shield123123213.png }} {{title|title= {{project_name_long}} Policy On Non-Freedom Software }} {{policy_mininav}} [[image:Shield123123213.png|250px|thumb]] {{intro| Permitted / Prohibited Discussions, Project Philosophy on Non-Freedom Software }} __FORCETOC__ = Introduction = The {{project_name_short}} project is a Freedom Software project. {{project_name_short}} is not a Freedom Software maximalist project, since it does not adhere to the [https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.en.html Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG)]. However, {{project_name_short}} will not bundle any unnecessary, major non-freedom software software components or contribute to these. = 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 rely on Non-Freedom server software; for example - 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 and Hyper-V. * Unless [[Professional_Support|paying for professional support]] (and hosted on separate website if hosted), it must be hosted without references to the {{project_name_short}} [[Trademark_Policy|trademark]] and website. |- ! 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. It is undesirable to harm this brand by bundling it with unnecessary non-freedom software components. |- |} = See Also = * [[Reasons for Freedom Software|Why {{project_name_short}} is Freedom Software]] * [[Policy_of_Website_and_Chat|Policy of the {{project_name_short}} Website and Chat]] * [[Warning#Unsubstantiated_Conclusions|Unsubstantiated Conclusions]] * [[Avoid_nonfreedom_software|Avoid Non-Freedom Software]] * [[Miscellaneous Threats to User Freedom]] * [[Dev/nonfree|non-freedom, proprietary, closed source firmware, CPU microcode and drivers]] = Footnotes = {{reflist|close=1}} {{Footer}} [[Category:Documentation]]