VRMS

VRMS

NAME SYNOPSIS DESCRIPTION HISTORY

NAME

vrms - report of installed non-free software

SYNOPSIS

vrms

DESCRIPTION

This program is an attempt at creating a

This program analyzes the currently-installed package list on a Debian GNU/Linux system, and reports the non-free packages that are currently installed to stdout.

The packages in the non-free tree have restrictions on their use and/or distribution which cause them to fail to meet the terms of the Debian Free Software Guidelines included as part of the Debian Social Contract. However, some are sufficiently useful that their presence is often tolerated by Debian users despite their licensing.

Richard is the most vocal among us on the issue of software morality, and we agree with Richard that Debian users should have an easy way to know when they are running non-free software on their systems. This program is our attempt to fill that need.

HISTORY

This program was written by Bdale Garbee and Bill Geddes for the Debian GNU/Linux system, in response to an open discussion with Richard Stallman about the issues surrounding the availability/desireability of the 'non-free' package tree in Debian.