[ILUG] contrib and non-free ?

[Paul J Collins]

>>>>> "DG" == Declan Grady <Declan.Grady at nuvotem.com> writes:

    DG> I was also gonna ask about what is contained in the contrib
    DG> and non-free folders ?

All the software in main is licensed under DFSG-compliant licenses.
Software in non-free is licensed unser licenses that are not
DFSG-compliant (e.g. the UW license that PINE is under).  Software in
contrib is DFSG-compliant software that depends on one or more
packages in non-free.  (Note: this definition of contrib may not be
quite right, but I can't find a defintion on debian.org.)

For example, Netscape Communicator 4 is in non-free, because, while it
is freely distributeable, the source is not available.  A Netscape
cache browser called nscache was recently ITP'd and is in contrib
because, while it is free software, it depends on non-free software.

"Contrib" doesn't really describe its contents at all, but a short
word to convey "free software that depends on non-free software" has
proven elusive.

-- 
"Pity has no place at my table."
      -- Dr Hannibal Lecter