Freedom issue #2508
[ksysguard] supports non-free nvidia-utils/nvidia-smi utility
0%
Description
New version of KSysGuard in KDE Plasma 5.17 (package ksysguard 5.17.0-1) added the plugin that supports nvidia-smi utility to display Nvidia GPU load stats. Please see the commit [1]. AFAIK, nvidia-smi is a part of nvidia-utils package that is blacklisted already [2]. I don't know if libre version of nvidia-smi exists.
I vote in favour of libre replacement of ksysguard with [1] reverted, instead of just being trigger-happy and blacklisting the whole package for that single reason.
[1] https://cgit.kde.org/ksysguard.git/commit/?id=98b81734d11438073e22e223c82b297f95a8fa29
[2] https://git.parabola.nu/blacklist.git/tree/blacklist.txt#n506
History
Updated by bill-auger over 1 year ago
- Priority changed from bug to discussion
- Subject changed from [ksysguard] Has new plugin that supports nvidia-smi utility from nonfreen vidia-utils package to [ksysguard] supports non-free nvidia-utils/nvidia-smi utility
im not sure if this is any problem for us - 'nvidia-utils' is on the blacklist; but 'ksysguard' does not depend it
$ pacman -Si ksysguard | grep -E 'Version|Depends' Version : 5.17.0-1 Depends On : knewstuff libksysguard kinit
Updated by grizzlyuser over 1 year ago
If we take Parabola Social Contract # 1 as a rule, I think this issue qualifies as support of execution of non-free software. For example, in a similar way, virt-install package removes support of non-free distros. Whatever is the decision, I think there has to be consistency on where to draw the line.
Perhaps, maintainer from Arch package has not added nvidia-utils to optdepends yet, so it doesn't depend on it right now. Obviously, I'm not going to report this to Arch bug tracker in my free time ;)
Updated by bill-auger over 1 year ago
ive never used virt-install; but IIRC the deal there, is that the
program will suggest and maybe even download the non-free
distro installer, like unetbootin
the idea of a libre distro is not to prevent people from running
non-free software - if they want to use it, thats freedom #0 -
the FSDG requires that we do not suggest, recommend, or assist
with using non-free programs - it does not require that we make
it impossible - if it did, then no javascript enabled web
browsers would be allowed - the browsers must not recommend
installing non-free addons; but they may use them if the user
acquires them elsewhere
the only exception of the preemptive kind you are suggesting is
the ability to load DRM modules - the FSDG requires that to be
removed
Updated by grizzlyuser over 1 year ago
I'm pretty sure virt-install does not prevent users from running non-free distros. AFAIK it removes preset configurations which can be automatically suggested by new VM wizard based on distro detected from ISO file.
Updated by bill-auger over 1 year ago
ok, i see now the bit in the parabola social contract that you are referring to
do not provide any type of support for the installation or execution of non-Free software.
im quite sure that is referring to technical support - as in: we will not explain or assist how to use non-free programs - we can surely have a discussion about that - i think the parabola social contract should be revised to be more precise and concise, and more importantly renamed to something more practical and accurate like: mission statement
for all practical purposes regarding the software packages, the parabola social contract could be summarized by one sentence, that is: "parabola follows the FSDG, and extends the FSDG to all files on the system" - the only "social" bit really, is the part that says we should involve the entire community in the decision making process; and im all for that
Updated by grizzlyuser over 1 year ago
I certainly did not mean that there has to be some restriction added to what users can run. After all, the sources are all there.
As another example, linux-libre disables loading of known non-free firmware blobs. It looks like KSysGuard would find and run non-free blob by hard-coded name (see commit), if it's available.
Updated by bill-auger over 1 year ago
thats not quite accurate about linux-libre - what it does, is it refuses to load any module that is not whitelisted; and that has been explained to me as a bug, not an intentional feature - the debian kernel used by pureos will load any compatible module that it finds; and the FSF did not see that as a problem when they endorsed pureos
again, we can have a conversation about this; but it should be on the mailing list for the benefit of everyone - id say that as things stand today, this is not a freedom bug - i will leave it open for a bit though to see if anyone else chimes in
Updated by grizzlyuser over 1 year ago
Probably I opened this issue based on wrong examples. As long as the package is free and stays in Parabola repos in one form or another, I'm fine.
Updated by grizzlyuser 11 months ago
Arch Linux added nonfree nvidia-utils as an optional dependency, see https://git.archlinux.org/svntogit/packages.git/commit/trunk?h=packages/ksysguard&id=9c1bfff56c8aa200ff857aa84641a6952f6df7f5