[Freedombox-discuss] http://politics.slashdot.org/story/11/07/18/0153204/Security-Consultants-Wa rn-About-PROTECT-IP-Act

[Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton]

ok, i just had a wonderful funny comment from someone, off-list, who
thought it was incredibly funny that i had to point out that the
software actually needs to be written before it can be packaged.

he also pointed out that this point would probably have to be repeated
multiple times before it actually sank in.

i just wrote back to him and asked him if he could possibly write the
following (and given that i wrote it to him i might as well cut/paste
it here):

 perhaps you might like to "chip in", with something like "so let me
get this straight: you're saying that there are actually two tasks -
one is to write the software, and the other is to package it, and
you're also saying that the debian developers are the best people to
do the packaging?"

 then i can reply "why yes, i am indeed: how observant of you to
notice!  i am indeed saying that there are ... "

 :)


ok, so is that clear enough??  this is a complex project WHERE THE
REQUIRED SOFTWARE DOESN'T EXIST.

 do i have to say it again?

 i think i will, anyway, just for the sheer hell of it.

 YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO GET THE SOFTWARE WRITTEN WHICH FULFILS THE
REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST.

 oh, and it's also worthwhile repeating, because i just know that
someone will think i'm full of shit and like spending my time
criticising people:

 THE DEBIAN DEVELOPERS ARE THE BEST PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB OF PACKAGING
THAT SOFTWARE WHEN IT EXISTS

 the reason is not so much the 16+ years track record, it's the Debian
Charter, the Debian GPG trust ring and the identity-proof system that
goes behind it, which is basically inviolate and absolutely
trustworthy.  that and the sheer dedication.

[ why do i have to spell this out?? *sigh* ]

 but that GPG trust ring, the Debian Charter and the sheer dedication
to the debian project is worht jack f*****g shit if there ain't no
f*****g software to package, is there??

 gaah :)

have i said it enough times, you think??

so - big elephant in the room: what's the plan to get the actual
software developed, that fulfils the requirements??

 l.