Notes on non-free packages in Debian Edu

We prefer packages licensed according to the DFSG, but some times there are no alternative to providing non-free packages in Debian Edu.

List of non-free packages on the DVD is available at the end of the needs love page for Lenny.

Evaluated packages, OK to include

etoys etoys-doc

QA info

For etoys and etoys-doc José Rodríguez report there's no legal problem. The packages have free licenses, but are kept in Debian non-free because it's impossible (up to now) bootstrap them from sources, due to the special way smalltalk images work (it's like trying to bootstrap from sources a free jpeg image).

Evaluated packages, not OK to include

sun-java5-bin sun-java5-jre sun-java5-plugin

QA info

The packages would be nice to have to get a working java browser plugin, but the installation require interactive acceptance of the non-free license. We avoid the package to avoid having to present the question to the admins when they install Debian Edu.

Packages yet to evaluate

eagle eagle-data

QA info

firmware-bnx2

firmware-bnx2x

firmware-ipw2x00

firmware-iwlwifi

firmware-qlogic

libjogl-java libjogl-jni

libworldwind-java worldwind