Can i install an gNewSense system without an GUI or XWindow System? i like a text-only system an i like work with texttools... Thanks

I guess you could change the default runlevel to 3 and then remove x. I'd recommend keeping x and using it only when needed, however.

I had to do some searching, but I found something to change the runlevel in upstart. It's different than debian.

http://tjworld.net/wiki/Linux/Ubuntu/RunlevelAtBoot

I wish there was a fully free version of slackware. I think it still defaults to the prompt and you have to "startx" to get into the GUI. Maybe someday.

Good luck.

ok... thanks... i think Debian with the libre-kernel is more suitable for me. Maybe someday gNewSense ;-)

Hey joeb. As a Debian user you might be able to answer this one.

I was wondering. Are the kernel blobs all that's non-free in debian's default install?

I know they have non-free in their repository, but I think it's clearly marked non-free and you can avoid it if you choose. What about the base install?

I was wondering why gNewSense decided only to track Ubuntu's LTS editions? I know we just had a point release of 2.2, but I think there will not be a major upgrade for another year when the new LTS comes out. By then the packages available for this aging distro will be quite old.

I was wondering why they do not just pace Debian? At least stable and sid. I'm hankerin' for a more bleeding edge 100% free distro and I was wondering what I would need to do to make Debian sid 100% free?

Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

Hi Junebug,

Linux kernel blobs are in a default debian install because Linux kernel is shipped with them by default (see http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/common-distros.html for other non-free stuff in debian and other common distributions).

gNewSense decided to track only Ubuntu's LTS edition, because of the lack of contribors (2 at the beginning). But as gNewSense community is growing, we might track Ubuntu's other editions in the future.

I think the primary goal of gNewSense was to show that a 100% free distribution could be very user-friendly and, as such, Ubuntu was a better base than debian. Moreover, Ubuntu's community seems more active than debian, that's a good point to help new users.

Thanks pitof.

So I was right in assuming that Debian is free except for the non-free parts of Linux?

Sorry, but no.

Debian does distribute non-free parts on their kernel packages, it was issue of discussion on various sites and all over the internet. It is odd that you haven't heard of it.

Thanks to Robert Millan there is a linux-libre repo for Debian Lenny.
http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2009/04/msg00010.html

Sorry, but no.

Debian does distribute non-free parts on their kernel packages, it was issue of discussion on various sites and all over the internet. It is odd that you haven't heard of it.

Thanks to Robert Millan there is a linux-libre repo for Debian Lenny.
http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2009/04/msg00010.html

XD sorry for double posting, my mistake.

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear. Yes. I did know that.

I was wondering about the other default packages installed not related to the kernel. Fonts, art, multimedia and the like.

I was wondering if I could simply install Debian, upgrade to Sid, remove the non-free repository, remove the kernel and then install the libre kernel. Would that system be 100% free?

I do that on my netbook. If you want to run debian sid you can try kernels from ali gunduz http://www.aligunduz.org/gNewSense/ I've been running testing/sid on the 2.6.29.1 kernel-libre for a while. ymmv.

100% Free? As far as I can tell I am. There are other things to keep an eye out for, for anyone wanting to run free software or which concerns freedom in general. e.g like mono. ( I know it's free software but as the deal with M$ treats users of non novel based distro differently some may chose to skip it) If you have concerns about mono try http://tim.thechases.com/mononono/ Another little programme is vrms "virtual rms" this will a neat little message showing how free you are. it can't see self compiled programmes.

debian867:/home/ok# vrms No non-free or contrib packages installed on debian867! rms would be proud.

The other thing to watch out for is programmes brought in from debian-multimedia. That repo does not support the normal debian convention of main, contrib, non-free. So if like me you use free software and ar'nt to worried about USA patent issues, you will add mp3 playback and dvd ripping from debian-multimedia but have to watch out from non-free code yourself.

@junebug

I concur with oswaldkelso, if you do a base net install of debian with the default repositories and add/use the libre-kernel you are just as free as gNewSense. Freer (as in more choices) perhaps since you do not have to uninstall the GUI (and selected default applications) that come with gNewSense.

Cheers Teague

"I wish there was a fully free version of slackware. I think it still defaults to the prompt and you have to "startx" to get into the GUI."

There is: http://www.dragora.org/

In Spanish. I never used, but it's listed in the free distros list from gnu dot org

I used Slackware for a long time too, since I was 13. Recently I changed to Debian, then to Slamd64 then to gNewSense :)