Debian to Stallman: Mono Not Default
In a response to Richard Stallman's open letter warning about introducing Mono into Linux, Debian made it clear that no plans are indeed forthcoming to adopt Mono-based programs into the default installation of its free Linux platform.
Debian developer and spokesperson Alexandre Reichle-Schmehl reacted in a blog entry to FSF founder Stallman's open letter of June 26, "Why free software shouldn't depend on Mono or C#", Stallman had especially targeted the Debian GNU/Linux distro for its inclusion of Tomboy software, which uses Microsoft's .NET-compatible Mono, in an unstable branch.
As precise as Stallman's language can be, it may have been based on a misunderstanding, according to Reichle-Schmehl. He counters Stallman's statement that Debian is "not to include Mono in the default installation, for the sake of Tomboy"; with, "The default GNOME installation... hasn't changed. It still installs a more or less minimal Gnome Desktop without Tomboy and without Mono" He admits that the Tomboy note-taking software has become part of a meta-package that depends on Tomboy "and will indeed pull in Mono, too," but has no effect on the standard installation.
Opponents of the Mono-based software fear that Microsoft might lay patent claims against Mono implementations. While the Ubuntu technical board doesn't foresee any problems in that respect, the Fedora community is playing it safe by installing Gnote, a Mono alternative, in GNOME 2.28 by default.
Issue 173/2015
Buy this issue as a PDF
News
-
Old Vulnerabilities Are Kept Alive Through Bad Configuration
HP's annual Cyber Risk report offers a bleak look at the state of IT.
-
Linus Torvalds Announces Linux 4.0
But what do the big numbers really mean?
-
Microsoft Frees CoreCLR
.NET Core execution engine is the basis for cross-platform .NET implementations.
-
New Trojan Attacks Linux Servers
The Xnote trojan hides itself on the target system and will launch a variety of attacks on command.
-
Cisco Releases Annual Security Report
Spammers go low-volume, and 90% of IE browsers are unpatched.
-
Zero Day Exploits Target Flash
Adobe scrambles to release patches for vulnerable Flash Player.
-
Intel Unveils Compute Stick
Four-inch-long computer on a stick lets you boot a full Linux system from any HDMI display device.
-
Obama Proposes Personal Data Notification Law
New statute would require companies to report break-ins to consumers.
-
TGXf Project Warns of File Transfer through Screen Pixels
Weird data transfer technique avoids all standard security measures.
-
Industry Giants Announce a Fix for the Password Mess
FIDO alliance declares the beginning of the end for old-style login authentication.