[opensuse-packaging] how to contribute package to repository
Dear sirs, Our company is software developer. Our software is proprietary RDF database. We would like to include our software package in the official Linux distribution repository. What do we need for this? A special license? Should we open source codes? Best regards, Dmitry Head of Department system administration -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
On Thursday 2013-07-11 08:28, Ovcharov Dmitry wrote:
Dear sirs,
Our company is software developer. Our software is proprietary RDF database. We would like to include our software package in the official Linux distribution repository. What do we need for this? A special license? Should we open source codes?
Proprietary is a no-go. An OSI-compatible or otherwise accepted freedom license is required. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
Dnia czwartek, 11 lipca 2013 09:56:30 Jan Engelhardt pisze:
Proprietary is a no-go. An OSI-compatible or otherwise accepted freedom license is required.
But openSUSE ships Adobe Flash Player, Opera, unrar... And they are not OSS. Other way to ship proprietary software is to use own obs instance. -- Pozdrawiam / Best regards, Mariusz Fik openSUSE Community Member GPG: 5FCE 7241 B3B9 32FD 455B C30E 42D6 6C88 9E83 7C3D
Hello, On Thu, 11 Jul 2013, Ovcharov Dmitry wrote:
Our company is software developer. Our software is proprietary RDF database. We would like to include our software package in the official Linux distribution repository. What do we need for this? A special license? Should we open source codes?
The process for including software without an OSI approved license into openSUSE is described at the bottom of https://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Build_Service_application_blacklist Basically you need to request an exception (via bugreport), and the software would then be put into the openSUSE:*:Non-Free projects. But note that exceptions are really _exceptions_, with good justification, like "many users will want to have this", which is the case for flash-player for instance. Such a case is hard to make for a RDF database, so you're probably not getting the exception. It doesn't hurt to ask, but don't be too disappointed if the answer comes back negative. Ciao, Michael. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
On Thu, Jul 11, 2013 at 10:46 AM, Michael Matz <matz@suse.de> wrote:
On Thu, 11 Jul 2013, Ovcharov Dmitry wrote:
Our company is software developer. Our software is proprietary RDF database. We would like to include our software package in the official Linux distribution repository. What do we need for this? A special license? Should we open source codes?
The process for including software without an OSI approved license into openSUSE is described at the bottom of https://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Build_Service_application_blacklist
Basically you need to request an exception (via bugreport), and the software would then be put into the openSUSE:*:Non-Free projects. But note that exceptions are really _exceptions_, with good justification, like "many users will want to have this", which is the case for flash-player for instance. Such a case is hard to make for a RDF database, so you're probably not getting the exception. It doesn't hurt to ask, but don't be too disappointed if the answer comes back negative.
I thought I should mention, that launching a private OBS server with OBS appliances[0] is surprisingly easy. You can build your package with that, and then you can easily link your homepage to that repo, or create a one-click-install file, so installing your database is just as easy and uses just the same package manager, yet you don't have to comply with the OSI license requirement (since you are distributing yourself). The appliance will automatically sync with changes from the official OBS repos, so it's a really cool and workable option. I used it a while ago to prepare a whole private software stack for a set of servers, and it's really handy. [0] http://openbuildservice.org/download/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
Michael Matz wrote:
On Thu, 11 Jul 2013, Ovcharov Dmitry wrote:
Our company is software developer. Our software is proprietary RDF database. We would like to include our software package in the official Linux distribution repository. What do we need for this? A special license? Should we open source codes?
The process for including software without an OSI approved license into openSUSE is described at the bottom of https://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Build_Service_application_blacklist
Basically you need to request an exception (via bugreport), and the software would then be put into the openSUSE:*:Non-Free projects. But note that exceptions are really _exceptions_, with good justification, like "many users will want to have this", which is the case for flash-player for instance. Such a case is hard to make for a RDF database, so you're probably not getting the exception. It doesn't hurt to ask, but don't be too disappointed if the answer comes back negative.
Actually I don't think there is any policy. Dimitry also asks for something that hasn't been asked before. Here the copyright owners of the software want to maintain their packages in our distro *themselves*. That's quite a different case from the repackaged stuff we have so far where the upstream company doesn't care at all. So while an open source license would of course be preferred, I don't see why a company shouldn't be allowed to distribute their software via our repos. Of course the package needs to adhere to the packaging guidelines etc like any other package as well. cu Ludwig -- (o_ Ludwig Nussel //\ V_/_ http://www.suse.de/ SUSE LINUX Products GmbH, GF: Jeff Hawn, Jennifer Guild, Felix Imendörffer, HRB 16746 (AG Nürnberg) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
Hey, On 31.07.2013 17:00, Ludwig Nussel wrote:
So while an open source license would of course be preferred, I don't see why a company shouldn't be allowed to distribute their software via our repos.
Because we are a community that provides free and easy access to Free and Open Source Software. We are working as part of the worldwide Free and Open Source community and we value free software an open development process and openness.[1] A.K.A. we don't distribute closed source software that doesn't care about software freedom. Henne [1] https://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Guiding_principles -- Henne Vogelsang http://www.opensuse.org Everybody has a plan, until they get hit. - Mike Tyson -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
* Henne Vogelsang <hvogel@opensuse.org> [2013-07-31 18:47]:
Hey,
On 31.07.2013 17:00, Ludwig Nussel wrote:
So while an open source license would of course be preferred, I don't see why a company shouldn't be allowed to distribute their software via our repos.
Because we are a community that provides free and easy access to Free and Open Source Software. We are working as part of the worldwide Free and Open Source community and we value free software an open development process and openness.[1]
A.K.A. we don't distribute closed source software that doesn't care about software freedom.
We do in openSUSE:*:NonFree as Mariusz already pointed out. Valuing free software does not preclude making additional non-free leaf packages available. We also value our users who e.g. may consciously choose to install a non-free browser plugin so they can watch funny cat videos... -- Guido Berhoerster -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
Hey, On 31.07.2013 19:45, Guido Berhoerster wrote:
* Henne Vogelsang <hvogel@opensuse.org> [2013-07-31 18:47]:
A.K.A. we don't distribute closed source software that doesn't care about software freedom.
We do in openSUSE:*:NonFree as Mariusz already pointed out.
Yes, exceptions to the rule. Exceptions that we try to keep to a minimum. Exceptions that we don't do lightly. Henne -- Henne Vogelsang http://www.opensuse.org Everybody has a plan, until they get hit. - Mike Tyson -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
Henne Vogelsang wrote:
On 31.07.2013 17:00, Ludwig Nussel wrote:
So while an open source license would of course be preferred, I don't see why a company shouldn't be allowed to distribute their software via our repos.
Because we are a community that provides free and easy access to Free and Open Source Software. We are working as part of the worldwide Free and Open Source community and we value free software an open development process and openness.[1]
A.K.A. we don't distribute closed source software that doesn't care about software freedom.
As others have pointed out our current practice contradicts that conclusion. So either we are already violating our own guidelines or you are interpreting something into them that isn't that black and white. cu Ludwig -- (o_ Ludwig Nussel //\ V_/_ http://www.suse.de/ SUSE LINUX Products GmbH, GF: Jeff Hawn, Jennifer Guild, Felix Imendörffer, HRB 16746 (AG Nürnberg) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
Hi, On Thu, 1 Aug 2013, Ludwig Nussel wrote:
Because we are a community that provides free and easy access to Free and Open Source Software. We are working as part of the worldwide Free and Open Source community and we value free software an open development process and openness.[1]
A.K.A. we don't distribute closed source software that doesn't care about software freedom.
As others have pointed out our current practice contradicts that conclusion. So either we are already violating our own guidelines or you are interpreting something into them that isn't that black and white.
This is the concept known under the name "exceptions". Exceptions need justification, justifications lie in the eye of the beholder. Typical types of justification for us are "many users will want it", or "many things depends on that"; that's not an exhaustive list, it needs to be determined case by case by either consensus or ultimately the release manager/team. I haven't seen a very convincing case (to me! please state if it was convincing to you) be made for the software that started this thread. Hence I don't see a reason to make an exception. Because, yes, as Henne said, all else being equal, we value free software more than we value the number of packages. Ciao, Michael. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
Hello again, On Wed, 31 Jul 2013, Ludwig Nussel wrote:
So while an open source license would of course be preferred, I don't see why a company shouldn't be allowed to distribute their software via our repos.
Actually there is a very good reason to not allow companies to distribute commercial software via our servers. At least not with a specific contract stating the rights and obligations of both sides. And that reason is liability. That goes both sides (these examples are constructed, and I'm not claiming at all that Dmitrys company or us would do anything like that, but it does point out the problems as soon as money is involved): a) What happens if our servers for some reason have problems delivering the software to customers. The company might be sueing us for compensation for lost revenue. b) The software might be found to infringe on some 3rd party rights by some court, and the holders of those might seek damage compensation. As we helped to distribute it, they might hold SUSE partly accountable and seek compensation also from us. I'm pretty sure nothing of the above could currently really be prevented with the contracts (non-existent) or disclaimers, except by knocking on wood and saying "it'll work just fine". Distributing free software has inherently similar problems of course. But case (a) above is immaterial because there can't be lost revenue. We still are in danger of (b) and try to mitigate this with certain rules, disclaimers and policies. But the _risk_ is still with us. We choose to take this risk for various reasons, among them because we want to further free software. But it's unclear why we should assume this distributors risk for commercial software when we don't see corresponding revenue. Ciao, Michael. P.S. as pointed out multiple times already, we do of course assume these risks for some closed software, as well justified exceptions. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
Dnia czwartek, 1 sierpnia 2013 14:46:54 Michael Matz pisze:
a) What happens if our servers for some reason have problems delivering the software to customers. The company might be sueing us for compensation for lost revenue.
Distributing free software has inherently similar problems of course. But case (a) above is immaterial because there can't be lost revenue. We
If a consultant hired to configure FOSS on the customer’s premises cannot do it because the server does not deliver, it may mean lost revenue to him as well. Chris -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
11.07.2013 10:28, Ovcharov Dmitry пишет:
A special license? Should we open source codes?
Nobody mentioned that dual-licensing (open-source compatible license and commercial one) is also ok. Look, for instance, how QT toolkit was (or still is?) licensed by dual-license model. Then open-sourced version may be distributed with various distributions, not only openSUSE. Basically, If you put sources on your web-site (under open source compatible terms) and the software is interesting for people, It appears in various distributions by efforts on volunteers who usually are users of this software. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse-packaging+owner@opensuse.org
participants (10)
-
Claudio Freire -
Guido Berhoerster -
Henne Vogelsang -
Jan Engelhardt -
Křištof Želechovski -
Ludwig Nussel -
Mariusz Fik -
Matwey V. Kornilov -
Michael Matz -
Ovcharov Dmitry