Trisquelize other non-Free GNU/Linux distributions
Hi,
I think it is urgent that users can Trisquelize other non-Free GNU/Linux distributions.
The script to switch from other distributions to Trisquel should be already. No matter Trisquel is not fully liberalized.
What really urgent is to configure the OS to be free with future updates of Trisquel.
The user should be able to make adjustments to move to Trisquel immediately. The process of release complete-free Trisquel may take longer.
Thank you.
You can wish for magic all you want, but that doesn't make it possible. The way GNU/Linux distributions organize their software repositories, not to mention the basic structure of those repositories, varies dramatically. The process of removing proprietary software from Ubuntu is not the same as removing proprietary software from Mint, and it's even more different from the process of removing proprietary software from Arch. Additionally, the resulting systems are completely different. This is why single systems like these aren't based off of multiple distros; it would be impractical and confusing.
Ok, so let's trisquelize Ubtu, only. But do it right now. It has to be configured since when the user installs Ubtu.
Then, developers could make Trisquel libre in a time.
It is important to make it easy for the user to choose Trisquel, Software Libre.
Thanks.
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Be specific. What exactly do you want to do when you say "trisquelize"? What is Ubtu?
Ubtu = Ubuntu
Trisquelize = Transform Ubuntu into Trisquel. Now, it would be, to take the control over Ubuntu to make it Software Libre, step by step.
There is a script to older versions that transform Ubuntu to Trisquel. trisquelize.sh: https://trisquel.info/es/wiki/migrar-de-ubuntu-trisquel-sin-reinstalar
If it is not possible to update that script to completely liberate Ubuntu now, I am suggesting the script prepare Ubuntu to accept Software Libre by the user (right now), and then, every step to make it libre will be installed every time developers of Trisquel has it ready.
Configure Ubuntu to trisquelize it step by step developers require. Instead of releasing whole Trisquel with all the liberation done.
:)
I don't see the point in such an effort. With the exception of blobs in Linux, Ubuntu already separates proprietary software into designated repositories, so it's possible to run Ubuntu without proprietary software just by replacing Linux with Linux-libre, if that's what you want. The main advantage of Trisquel is it's easy to recommend to others.
I think you misunderstand: If such a script existed for a given Ubuntu version then the appropriate version of Trisquel has already been released (notice that the script changes the repositories to point to Trisquel's for example.) So the release of the script and the so-called "Trisquelization" of Ubuntu are actually one and the same and you can't have one without the other. :)
They are not non-free. They may contain non-free components whether by default or accessible thru the official repository.
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I agree. If the distro cared about becoming free software, you would not need such a script--they would do it themselves. If they do not care enough, then they will have respositories containing non-free software. This would make them ineligible to become an FSF sanctioned officially free distro.
We couldn't help them if we wanted to. They have to want to change. It is not as though they have never heard of free software! Now if you are asking why don't we create a free version of a particular distro, the answer is we did! We took Ubuntu and cleaned it of all the non-free software. Why would we want to do that again? We could use that time making this distro even better!
Here is step by step guide to "Trisquelize" any ubuntu distro:
1. First you always want to do a back up:
GUI: Back in Time
http://backintime.le-web.org/download_page/
Command line: rsync
https://rsync.samba.org/
2.- Now download Trisquel, and MD5 file:
https://trisquel.info/es/download
3.- Check that your download was not compromised:
a) put your ISO file and your MD5 file on the same directory
b) open a terminal within the directory where those files are
c) run: md5sum trisquel_7.0_amd64.iso
or run: md5sum trisquel-mini_7.0_amd64.iso
or whatever name yout iso has
d) you must get something like "baf8129a2bf08d6c9c3598a149399165 trisquel-mini_7.0_amd64.iso" compare it with your MD5 file if they match you are ok. If dont, please DO NOT CONTINUE and contact Trisquel.
4.- Deppending on your needs create live-usb or a live-DVD:
USB:
https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/burn-trisquel-cd-images
DVD:
https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/burn-trisquel-cd-images
5.- Reboot your pc and make sure to select to boot from USB or DVD from BIOS deppending on where you put Trisquel.
6.- Before installing anything select the option to verify disk.
7.- If the disk was ok, now you can install Trisquel.
8.- Recommended: Wipe all the OS's that don't respect your freedom:
https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html
If you have one of these then it is ok:
https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html
9.- Recommended: Encrypt your hole hard drive or SSD drive for a more secure Trisquel installation.
10.- Enjoy!
Now you have a "Trisquelized" computer, based on Ubuntu but whitout all the bullshit. And you can do it right now :)
I migrated the wiki page to the Gitlab, https://devel.trisquel.info/trisquelize/trisquelize, you can commit your changes if you like to update the code.
Please see: https://www.gnu.org/software/repo-criteria-evaluation.html
GitLab has C grade. Savannah is recommended for ethical hosting.
Another chance to explain it to you:
How many users download and intall new Ubuntu versions? Yes, a lot.
They are trapped by a non-free distro. We have to let them use a OS Libre easily. They like Ubuntu. But they are available to accept the changes to use OS Libre. Is not possible to do something (for the user) to accept it from the beginning? And developers will make changes later (no needed more user interaction). (Maybe with repositories...)
That is a different option to the libre distro release.
This way, Ubuntu users become Libre distro (Trisquel) users.
I wish someone could understand what I am trying to explain. Thanks.
Why do you insist on labeling Ubuntu as non-free? Ubuntu is a free (as in freedom) distro. The only non-free components are in Linux kernel (drivers).
That's not quite the full story. The "restricted" and "multiverse" repositories contain proprietary software, and "restricted" is officially supported. But it is true that it is easy to use Ubuntu without any proprietary software.
You are right, "restricted" and "multiverse" components are readily available by Ubuntu team but Ubuntu does not install them by default. It is *up to the user* to install them or not. Ubuntu does not decide on behalf of users that they must leave their freedom, Ubuntu just gives them the option to whether install them or not. IMO, this procedure does not make a GNU/Liunx non-free.
Yes, but the "restricted" repository is an officially supported repository. It's a part of Ubuntu, unless you're going to be pedantic and say that nothing is really part of Ubuntu unless it's on the live CD. Such a distinction is meaningless. The whole point of the repositories is to use them.
That doesn't mean that using Ubuntu is a problem. You can use Ubuntu without proprietary software very easily, because Canonical has separated out proprietary software into distinct repositories (for the most part). But that's not a legitimate reason to think of Ubuntu as completely libre.
Please see : https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html
about real libre-distros of GNU.
Thanks for the link, but unfortunately your link does not say anything against my words, FSF has problem with
1. promoting non-free software.
2. making non-free software readily available to install
3. using Linux kernel (instead of Linux-libre)
You say these options make Ubuntu a non-free distro? Ubuntu does not stand against users who want to install non-free software and unfortunately promote those non-free software and make them easily reachable. So, it seems that their policy is different and it does not make them eligible to name Ubuntu as non-free.
Please see Ubuntu section here: https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html
I am a translator!
Ubuntu provides specific repositories of nonfree software, and Canonical expressly promotes and recommends nonfree software under the Ubuntu name in some of their distribution channels. Ubuntu offers the option to install only free packages, which means it also offers the option to install nonfree packages too. In addition, the version of Linux, the kernel, included in Ubuntu contains firmware blobs.
The “Ubuntu Software Center” lists proprietary programs and free programs jumbled together. It is hard to tell which ones are free since proprietary programs for download at no charge are labelled “free”.
Since October 2012, Ubuntu sends personal data about users' searches to a server belonging to Canonical, which sends back ads to buy things from Amazon. This does not, strictly speaking, affect whether Ubuntu is free software, but it is a violation of users' privacy. It also encourages buying from Amazon, a company associated with DRM as well as mistreatment of workers, authors and publishers.
This adware is one of the rare occasions in which a free software developer persists in keeping a malicious feature in its version of a free program.
Ubuntu appears to permit commercial redistribution of exact copies with the trademarks; removal of the trademarks is required only for modified versions. That is an acceptable policy for trademarks. The same page, further down, makes a vague and ominous statement about “Ubuntu patents,” without giving enough details to show whether that constitutes aggression or not.
That page spreads confusion by using the misleading term “intellectual property rights”, which falsely presumes that trademark law and patent law and several other laws belong in one single conceptual framework. Use of that term is harmful, without exception, so after making a reference to someone else's use of the term, we should always reject it. However, that is not a substantive issue about Ubuntu as a GNU/Linux distribution.
If it is easy, why is so difficult transform it into Trisquel or into a completely libre-distro?
Why do take so much time release the new version of Trisquel?
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Is it easy to go from Windows to Ubuntu?
Is it easy to go from MacOS to Ubuntu?
It is just as easy to go from Slackware to Fedora.
It is just as easy to go from Ubuntu to Trisquel.
In all cases you download, put on DVD, and install.
What is the problem???
I was answering to onpon4. onpon4 said that it was easy. :( If it was, it would be already done.
I explain a strategy to add new users to (Trsiquel) Libre-OS. The Ubuntu ones.
I said using Ubuntu without proprietary software is easy, and it is, because Ubuntu mostly separates proprietary software into designated repositories, just like Debian does.
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I understand exactly what you are saying. You want to make it very very easy for an Ubuntu user to switch to Trisquel. They don't even have to think about the decision, all they have to do is hit a button (run a script).
But what happens next? If they like Trisquel as much as Ubuntu, they will like free software. If they don't like Trisquel as much, they won't like free software. This is backwards. First they must believe in free software. Then, they must make a commitment to use Free software (not because it is easy to do, but because it is the right thing to do). Then they will be willing to make sacrifices for it.
Since Windows and MacOS don't have a script that converts them to Ubuntu, these Ubuntu users had to install Ubuntu directly. They already know how to install directly. If they are not willing to install Trisquel directly, they are certainly not ready for Trisquel.
It is not a question of getting more people to know about Trisquel. What is really needed is more advertising about the Free Software Movement and its emphasis on values. Stallman is great, but we need about 1,000 more people like him and some commercials, billboards, movies, books etc... We need to get the word out. We could do the same with Trisquel, but without the Free Software values, it is pointless. Someone who cares about free software will look for Trisquel (i.e. they will already be reading gnu.org) and they will find Trisquel.
I am a member!
OK, I understand what the OP really wants.
Ubuntu 16.04 came out and the OP does not want to wait for Trisquel 8
Patience!
OP = Original Poster
Yes. :)