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 4 years 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 4 years 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 4 years 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 4 years 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 4 years 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 4 years 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 4 years 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 4 years 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 about 4 years 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