Editing Debian (section)

=== Repositories ===
The [[Debian Free Software Guidelines]] (DFSG) define the distinctive meaning of the word "free" as in "[[free and open-source software]]".<ref name="socialcontract">{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/social_contract |title = Debian Social Contract |publisher = Debian |access-date = 2013-06-17 |archive-date = February 17, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110217173758/http://www.debian.org/social_contract |url-status = live }}</ref> Packages that comply with these guidelines, usually under the GNU General Public License, [[BSD licenses#3-clause|Modified BSD License]] or [[Artistic License]],<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/legal/licenses/ |title = License information |publisher = Debian |access-date = 2009-02-28 |archive-date = July 20, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170720142826/https://www.debian.org/legal/licenses/ |url-status = live }}</ref> are included inside the ''main'' area;<ref name="distributions">{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/developers-reference/resources.html |work = Debian Developer's Reference |title = Chapter 4. Resources for Debian Developers |access-date = 2008-10-31 |publisher = Debian |archive-date = October 25, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081025010313/http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/developers-reference/resources.html |url-status = live }}</ref> otherwise, they are included inside the ''non-free'' and ''contrib'' areas. These last two areas are not distributed within the official installation media, but they can be adopted manually.<ref name="socialcontract" />

Non-free includes packages that do not comply with the DFSG,<ref name="debian-policy">{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-archive.html#s-sections |work = Debian Policy Manual |title = Chapter 2 – The Debian Archive |publisher = Debian |date = 2013-10-28 |access-date = 2014-07-09 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140713200533/http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-archive.html#s-sections |archive-date = July 13, 2014 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> such as documentation with invariant sections and [[proprietary software]],<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/vote/2006/vote_001#amendmenttexta |title = General Resolution: Why the GNU Free Documentation License is not suitable for Debian main |publisher = Debian |year = 2006 |access-date = 2014-07-02 |archive-date = June 29, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140629002111/https://www.debian.org/vote/2006/vote_001#amendmenttexta |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://packages.debian.org/stable/fglrx-driver |title = Package: fglrx-driver (1:12-6+point-3) &#91;non-free&#93; |publisher = Debian |access-date = 2014-07-02 |archive-date = July 14, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714200624/https://packages.debian.org/stable/fglrx-driver |url-status = live }}</ref> and legally questionable packages.<ref name="debian-policy" /> Contrib includes packages which do comply with the DFSG but fail other requirements. For example, they may depend on packages which are in non-free or requires such for building them.<ref name="debian-policy" />

[[Richard Stallman]] and the [[Free Software Foundation]] have criticized the Debian project for hosting the non-free repository and because the contrib and non-free areas are easily accessible,<ref name="Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems"/><ref>{{cite mailing list |url = https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnuherds-app-dev/2007-10/msg00049.html |title = Re: Debian vs gNewSense – FS criteria |last = Stallman |first = Richard |author-link = Richard Stallman |mailing-list = gnuherds-app-dev |publisher = lists.nongnu.org |date = 2007-10-06 |access-date = 2014-07-09 |quote = What makes Debian unacceptable is that its inclusion of non-free software is not a mistake. |archive-date = July 14, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714142657/https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/gnuherds-app-dev/2007-10/msg00049.html |url-status = live }}</ref> an opinion echoed by some in Debian including the former project leader Wichert Akkerman.<ref>{{cite mailing list |url = https://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/1999/06/msg00043.html |mailing-list = debian-vote |title = Moving contrib and non-free of master.debian.org |last = Akkerman |first = Wichert |date = 1999-06-21 |publisher = Debian |access-date = 2014-08-04 |archive-date = July 20, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140720100552/https://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/1999/06/msg00043.html |url-status = live }}</ref> The internal dissent in the Debian project regarding the non-free section has persisted,<ref>{{cite mailing list |url = https://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2014/03/msg00224.html |title = non-free? |last = Wise |first = Paul |mailing-list = debian-vote |publisher = Debian |date = 2014-03-22 |access-date = 2014-08-16 |archive-date = August 19, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084518/https://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2014/03/msg00224.html |url-status = live }}</ref> but the last time it came to a vote in 2004, the majority decided to keep it.<ref name="nonfreeremovalvote">{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/vote/2004/vote_002 |title = General Resolution: Status of the non-free section |year = 2004 |access-date = 2009-09-28 |publisher = Debian |archive-date = October 8, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091008234847/http://www.debian.org/vote/2004/vote_002 |url-status = live }}</ref>