www/distros distros.html

[Richard M. Stallman]

CVSROOT:        /webcvs/www
Module name:    www
Changes by:     Richard M. Stallman <rms>       09/04/09 16:23:44

Modified files:
        distros        : distros.html 

Log message:
        Various rewrites.  Urge people to help existing free
        distros rather than launch new ones.

CVSWeb URLs:
http://web.cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/www/distros/distros.html?cvsroot=www&r1=1.2&r2=1.3

Patches:
Index: distros.html
===================================================================
RCS file: /webcvs/www/www/distros/distros.html,v
retrieving revision 1.2
retrieving revision 1.3
diff -u -b -r1.2 -r1.3
--- distros.html        11 Mar 2009 11:49:16 -0000      1.2
+++ distros.html        9 Apr 2009 16:22:39 -0000       1.3
@@ -9,37 +9,45 @@
 <p>
 Free GNU/Linux system distributions (or &ldquo;distros&rdquo;) only
 include and only propose free software.  They reject non-free
-applications, non-free programming platforms, non-free drivers, or
-non-free firmware &ldquo;blobs&rdquo;.  If by mistake they do include
-any, they remove it.
-</p><p>
-This page links to a list of free system distributions, to the guidelines that 
-we use when deciding whether a distro is free, and to a list of common distros
-that do not meet those guidelines.
+applications, non-free programming platforms, non-free drivers,
+non-free firmware &ldquo;blobs&rdquo;, and any other non-free software
+and documentation.  If they discover that by mistake some had been
+included, they remove it.
 </p>
 
 <h3 id="freeDistros">Free GNU/Linux Distros</h3>
 <p>
 We recommend that you use a free GNU/Linux system distribution, one that does 
-not include proprietary software at all. You can find a list of such distros 
-here:<br />
+not include proprietary software at all.  That way you can be sure that you are
+not installing any non-free programs. Here is the list of such distros:<br />
 <a href="/links/links.html#FreeGNULinuxDistributions">
 Free GNU/Linux Distributions</a><br />
 </p>
 
+<p>
+If you want to contribute in the most useful way, we suggest that you
+join the development of an existing free distro rather that starting a
+new distro, even if the new one is free.  Each of these existing
+distros could use more development help.
+</p>
+
 <h3 id="distroGuidelines">Free Distro Guidelines</h3>
 <p>
-We keep a list of known issues that prevent a distro being considered free 
-here:<br />
+Here is the list of problems that can prevent a distro from being considered 
entirely free:<br />
 <a href="/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html">
 Guidelines for Free System Distributions</a>
 </p>
 
 <h3 id="otherDistros">Common Distros</h3>
 <p>
-Many common and well-known GNU/Linux software distributions don't meet our 
guidelines. You can read about the issues with them here:<br />
+Many common and well-known GNU/Linux software distributions don't meet our 
guidelines. You can read about their problems here:<br />
 <a href="/distros/common-distros.html">
-Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems</a>
+Explaining Why We Don't Endorse The Well-Known GNU/Linux Distros</a>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+We appeal to the developers of these distros to remove the non-free parts and
+thus make them entirely free software.
 </p>
 
 </div><!-- for id="content", starts in the include above -->
@@ -75,7 +83,7 @@
 <p>
 Updated:
 <!-- timestamp start -->
-$Date: 2009/03/11 11:49:16 $
+$Date: 2009/04/09 16:22:39 $
 <!-- timestamp end -->
 </p>
 </div>