Ubuntu from source

[Tim Tebbit]

Rashkae wrote:
> 
> 
> Strictly speaking, you are wrong.  Forgive me if I don't quote you
> directly from the GPL, since I'm lazy, but Mephis ran headfirst into
> this problem.  Distributing a binary of a GPL program, modified or not,
> requires that you make the source available to the recipients of the
> binary.  You can comply with this by including a written offer to send
> the source for a nominal fee, but it turns out it's just easier and less
> complicated to simply include the source with the repos.  It's not
> sufficient to just rely on upstream.  (after all, upstream is under no
> obligation to keep offering the version of the source that you happen to
> have packaged.)
> 
> That being said, even for non GPL stuff, Ubuntu project does comply with
> Open source values in spirit as well as obligation, (though not as
> purist as Debian.)  The source for all packages in Main and Universe
> should be readily available.  The caveat, of course, is that Ubuntu
> includes some packages that are not available as open source (such as
> proprietary video drivers,), which obviously, you won't be able to build
> from source packages.

+ 1 Which is why the FSF sends a DVD containing the source code along with the
membership card (Business Card Live gNewSense) to it's members.