Re: [Phpgroupware-developers] GNU/Linux on the phpGW bug tracker

[Chris Weiss]

I have a small problem with this change .... only Debain is actually
GNU/Linux, Mandrake is close, and the rest are certainly not GNU.  "GNU/Linux"
and "Linux" are not exactly the same thing, adding GNU to it means that it's
not just GPL compatable but is strictly following the rules of the GNU,
correct?

I think the truely proper change would be to:
Debian GNU/Linux
Mandrake Linux
Redhat/Fedora
SuSE
Other Linux

I understand the want to put linux in front as it groups them, but if that is
somehow against GNU policy (and I say wtf on that) then putting GNU/Linux on
non-GNU distros should also be against the GNU policy.  Or maybe I
misunderstood the problem, Mathieu didn't directly say what the problem is but
mearly alluded to some policy that has something to do with listing the name
"Linux".

Dave Hall (address@hidden) wrote:
>
> Hi Mathieu,
>
> I did not see this post on the phpGW lists - it was pointed out to me by
> someone.
>
> Mathieu Roy wrote:
> > Browsing the phpGroupWare bug tracker for a bug related to Savannah, I
> > found something strange.
> >
> > I, the field "platform", that people submitting bugs against
> >phpGroupWare are supposed to fill, they are prompted for
> >             "Linux - Debian"
> >             "Linux - Mandrake"
> >             "Linux - RedHat"
> >             [...]
>
> >I'm not sure to understand how mentioning the kernel name can be
> >useful in a report against a PHP application.
>
> It is not the kernel version.  It is the distro.  As you would be aware,
> each distro does things a little differently.  It makes it easy for us
> to notice patterns based on distros.
>
> > So I'm lead to assume that it is written Linux in the sense of an
> > Operating System.
> >
> > This terminology is not supported by the GNU Project, neither does
> > this terminology support the GNU Project.
>
> It is obviously an oversight by someone.  I am not sure who or when.
>
> Please keep in mind, for many of our developers phpGW is the first time
> they have worked on a GNU package - so there is a bit of a learning
> curve.  We do try to educate our users and developers about the GNU project.
>
> >
> > Every project registered as Savannah is asked to use the terminology
> > that GNU support, as a part of the deal for an almost free-as-beer
> > hosting facility. However, your project seems to have been registered
> > way before strict rules have been established on that topic.
> >
>
> We do try to do this.  If there are any other problems, let us know and
> we will fix them as soon as time permits.
>
> > Also, on the phpGroupWare, it mentions that phpGroupWare is part of
> > the GNU project.
>
> Yep and part of DotGNU.
>
> >
> > I think it would be appropriate to changes the content of the
> > incriminated platform field for your bug tracker hosted at Savannah. A
> > trivial modification that could help to promote GNU ideals.
>
> Done.
>
> Cheers
>
> Dave Hall (aka skwashd)
> API Coordinator
> phpGroupWare
>