Public bug reported: Many software are tagged in Ubuntu Software (a.k.a. Ubuntu Software Center) as "non-free" like VLC or hexchat.
Unfortunately meaning of "non-free" is not explained as far as I can see. Does it mean "free software" as opposite of "proprietary"? Or does it mean it requires a price to pay to install and use? Furthermore, I cannot see any license information of such software. As they are listed as "non-free", a user might think that they are closed source software. However in fact vlc and hexchat are open source software. This is misleading. I suggest adding short and descriptive license information. It should always be noted if a software is open source or not. In addition, if a software is under a common "free software" license such as GPL or Apache it also can be stated. This would provide users with valuable and easy to understand information about software he/she is about to install. I also suggest adding repository information of any software. Is it in "main", "universe", "restricted" or "multiverse"? This would provide users with meaningful extra information. Ubuntu Release: 16.10 software-center: Installed: (none) Candidate: 16.01+16.04.20160420 Version table: 16.01+16.04.20160420 500 500 http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety/universe amd64 Packages 500 http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety/universe i386 Packages ** Affects: software-center (Ubuntu) Importance: Undecided Status: New ** Description changed: Many software are tagged in Ubuntu Software (a.k.a. Ubuntu Software Center) as "non-free" like VLC or hexchat. Unfortunately meaning of "non-free" is not explained as far as I can see. Does it mean "free software" as opposite of "proprietary"? Or does it - mean it does not require any price to pay to install and use? + mean it requires a price to pay to install and use? Furthermore, I cannot see any license information of such software. As they are listed as "non-free", a user might think that they are closed source software. However in fact vlc and hexchat are open source software. This is misleading. - I suggest adding short and descriptive license information would be - efficient. It should always noted if a software is open source or not. - In addition, ff a software is under a common license such as GPL or - Apache it also can be stated. This would provide users with valuable - information about software he/she is about to install. + I suggest adding short and descriptive license information. It should + always be noted if a software is open source or not. In addition, if a + software is under a common open source license such as GPL or Apache it + also can be stated. This would provide users with valuable and easy to + understand information about software he/she is about to install. I also suggest adding repository information of any such software. Is it in "main", "universe", "restricted" or "multiverse"? This would provide users with meaningful extra information. Ubuntu Release: 16.10 software-center: - Installed: (none) - Candidate: 16.01+16.04.20160420 - Version table: - 16.01+16.04.20160420 500 - 500 http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety/universe amd64 Packages - 500 http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety/universe i386 Packages + Installed: (none) + Candidate: 16.01+16.04.20160420 + Version table: + 16.01+16.04.20160420 500 + 500 http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety/universe amd64 Packages + 500 http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety/universe i386 Packages ** Description changed: Many software are tagged in Ubuntu Software (a.k.a. Ubuntu Software Center) as "non-free" like VLC or hexchat. Unfortunately meaning of "non-free" is not explained as far as I can see. Does it mean "free software" as opposite of "proprietary"? Or does it mean it requires a price to pay to install and use? Furthermore, I cannot see any license information of such software. As they are listed as "non-free", a user might think that they are closed source software. However in fact vlc and hexchat are open source software. This is misleading. I suggest adding short and descriptive license information. It should always be noted if a software is open source or not. In addition, if a software is under a common open source license such as GPL or Apache it also can be stated. This would provide users with valuable and easy to understand information about software he/she is about to install. - I also suggest adding repository information of any such software. Is it - in "main", "universe", "restricted" or "multiverse"? This would provide + I also suggest adding repository information of any software. Is it in + "main", "universe", "restricted" or "multiverse"? This would provide users with meaningful extra information. Ubuntu Release: 16.10 software-center: Installed: (none) Candidate: 16.01+16.04.20160420 Version table: 16.01+16.04.20160420 500 500 http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety/universe amd64 Packages 500 http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety/universe i386 Packages ** Description changed: Many software are tagged in Ubuntu Software (a.k.a. Ubuntu Software Center) as "non-free" like VLC or hexchat. Unfortunately meaning of "non-free" is not explained as far as I can see. Does it mean "free software" as opposite of "proprietary"? Or does it mean it requires a price to pay to install and use? Furthermore, I cannot see any license information of such software. As they are listed as "non-free", a user might think that they are closed source software. However in fact vlc and hexchat are open source software. This is misleading. I suggest adding short and descriptive license information. It should always be noted if a software is open source or not. In addition, if a - software is under a common open source license such as GPL or Apache it - also can be stated. This would provide users with valuable and easy to - understand information about software he/she is about to install. + software is under a common "free software" license such as GPL or Apache + it also can be stated. This would provide users with valuable and easy + to understand information about software he/she is about to install. I also suggest adding repository information of any software. Is it in "main", "universe", "restricted" or "multiverse"? This would provide users with meaningful extra information. Ubuntu Release: 16.10 software-center: Installed: (none) Candidate: 16.01+16.04.20160420 Version table: 16.01+16.04.20160420 500 500 http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety/universe amd64 Packages 500 http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu yakkety/universe i386 Packages -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1663872 Title: License information of "non-free" software are not described To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+bug/1663872/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
