On 2004-01-03 12:23:49 +0000 Ben Francis ben@franci5.fsnet.co.uk wrote:
I wasn't sure how to check this, but thanks for the reply!
I think "hdparm" can check and set DMA on DVD drives, despite the name.
As an aside, what are the issues surrounding the licensing on mplayer and is this the reason that a more recent version is not in Debian's package list?
Search http://lists.debian.org/ for mplayer on debian-legal in October 2003. I think mplayer used to have a contradictory licence. There are some unanswered questions about the application of the GPL, problems with libraries used and enforced patents on the code. About GPL 2a, "Gabucino" of mplayer core asked for help rather than committing to fixing this basic legal problem of their own making. It's sort of ironic, given their current front page rant about someone infringing their copyright!
[...] They do, however seem to show some hostility to the Debian community, although I may have imagined it!
I think it's real. They publish news stories on their web site saying "Debian sucks - that's the opinion of most of the core developers" and that's hardly friendly, is it?
The mplayer developers on debian lists that I've seen have been very rude. They seem to think that Debian is obliged to include mplayer; help fix their problems; or give a checklist which mplayer must satisfy and then admit it. They also seem to suggest past errors create precedents, by citing problems with other software already in Debian. Of course, the normal outcome is to examine the other problems and solve them, not compound them.
I'd like Debian to include mplayer, but I don't think it should break the social contract to do so. I'm not going to help while the mplayer core seem no fun to work with. If you think they are fun, go for it. Someone to keep a real list of current licence bugs may help.