[Pkg-fonts-devel] Bug#851339: Bug#851339: Bug#851339: Bug#851339: fonts-firacode: package in Debian with non-Debian build dependencies

[Ben Finney]

On 17-Jan-2017, Fabian Greffrath wrote:
> Paul Wise wrote:
> > […] The issue is that there is no Free Software in Debian main
> > that can build the OTF from source. […]
> 
> But the OTF format itself is just as suitable a source format for
> fonts as any other format. Why is it so important what upstream has
> chosen?

Debian recipients should have equal access to make modifications to
the work, build the work from modified source, and install the result.

The preferred form of this work for making modifications to it is the
Glyphs data files. So, for Debian recipients to have equal access to
make modifications to this work, Debian must include that form of this
work, and equivalent tools for building the work from that source
form.

> Thought experiment: Would it feel more "correct" if I forked the
> firacode upstream project, converted their OTF files into
> fontforge's SFD format, checked these into a GIT repo and then
> distributed these?

That would not change the fact of what is the source form of this
work.

The fact of the matter is the Glyphs data files are the preferred form
of the work to make modifications.

Whether another series of automated transformations is made from that
source form, does not change the fact that it remains the source form
of the work.

> Now, what would happen if URW++ suddenly revealed that they used
> proprietary software to create the fonts and that the files that we
> have are not the canonical sources. Why should it make a difference
> at all?

It would reveal that Debian recipients do not have equal access to
the source, for modifying building, and installing the work.

-- 
 \       “I went to a general store. They wouldn't let me buy anything |
  `\                                     specifically.” —Steven Wright |
_o__)                                                                  |
Ben Finney <bignose at debian.org>
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