[Dev] [Bug-gnuzilla] Several freedom-bugs in IceCat (from the Parabola team)

[Loic J. Duros]

Luke T. Shumaker <lukeshu at sbcglobal.net> writes:

Hi:

Thanks for these reports, we will review them thoroughly.
I've added comments about them as I read.

> Type: freedom issue
> Subject: Includes non-freedom respecting search engines
>
> Even though DuckDuckGo is the default, it still includes Google and
> Yahoo search engines.

We still want to provide alternatives to DuckDuckGo, and give users the
choice. 

> Type: (possible) freedom issue
> Subject: Recommends DuckDuckGo, which uses non-free javascript.
>
> DuckDuckGo uses non-free javascript, so Parabola includes DuckDuckGo
> HTML.  However, because IceCat includes LibreJS, this may be a
> non-issue, as without javascript, it will fall back to the HTML-only
> version.

DuckDuckGo in the search box and in the about:home page go directly to
the html version of DuckDuckGo, the query includes the HTML-only URL is
given as the destination of the forms: https://duckduckgo.com/html/


>
> I feel that it is still nescessary to include DDG HTML instead
> because even though it falls back, it still seems to be recommending

Where do you see DDG being included without the /html/ url? 

> the non-free JS.  Similar way to how Linux-libre doesn't just
> remove non-free globs, but also removes reverences to the files from
> the kernel, so that it doesn't seem that the kernel is recommending
> them.
>
> ----
>
> Type: freedom issue
> Subject: If social API stuff is enabled, Facebook is there by default
>
> Even though social.active=false by default, if it is enabled, the
> default setup includes Facebook.
>
> This affects the values of social.manifest.facebook and
> social.activation.whitelist in browser/app/profile/firefox.js

I am aware of the social API. The API and xul stuff are free, the
service that interacts with them may or may not be free. As for 

>
> ----
>
> Type: rebranding issue
> Subject: browser/app/Makefile tries to install /bin/firefox
> Patch:
> --- a/browser/app/Makefile.in
> +++ b/browser/app/Makefile.in
> @@ -233,7 +233,7 @@
>  else
>  ifdef LIBXUL_SDK
>  libs::
> -	cp $(LIBXUL_DIST)/bin/$(XULRUNNER_STUB_NAME)$(BIN_SUFFIX) $(DIST)/bin/firefox$(BIN_SUFFIX)
> +	cp $(LIBXUL_DIST)/bin/$(XULRUNNER_STUB_NAME)$(BIN_SUFFIX) $(DIST)/bin/icecat$(BIN_SUFFIX)
>  endif
>  endif
>  
>
> ----
>
> Type: rebranding issue
> Subject: Identifies w/ Mozilla in the first-run "Know your rights..." bar
>
> The bar that pops up on first run tha has the "Know your rights..."
> button reads:
>
>  > GNU IceCat is free and open source software from the non-profit
>  > Mozilla Foundation.
>
> when it should probaly identify as being from GNU or the FSF.
>
> ----
>
> Type: technical/rebranding issue
> Subject: "Reset IceCat" does not work
>
> This is because it falls victim to Mozilla bug 756390
> The patch uploaded to the Mozilla bug tracker should fix this.
>
> https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=756390
>
> ----
>
> Type: (possible) rebranding issue
> Subject: Uses the phrase "Firefox Sync"
>
> I'm not sure if this is an issue or not.  One could look at "Firefox
> Sync" as a separate service (that is integrated) that is not being
> modified, or as part of the browser that is.
>
> ----
>
> Type: freedom/legal issue
> Subject: Recommends using Mozilla's sync servers.
>
> Mozilla's TOS only allows "official Mozilla-branded software" to use
> their servers for Firefox Sync without special written permission.
>
> I know that Trisquel runs their own sync servers for Abrowser, I'm
> sure they'd be happy to let you use them.  I also think it would be
> cool if GNU ran their own servers.  I've also been toying with the
> idea of packaging the sync server software for Parabola and running it
> on our servers.
>
> If you do end up getting permission to use Mozilla's servers, I
> believe that the TOS and Privacy Policy are acceptable, but you'd want
> to take a look yourself. 
>
> ----
>
> Type: bug
> Subject: langpacks
>
> There are no IceCat 17 langpacks that I can tell.
>
> As another issue with the langpack script, the resulting langpacks
> overrode the normal search engine settings to be back to using Google
> by default. (apparently, en-US user here)
>
> ----
>
> Type: feature request
> Subject: Run AMO on GNU servers.
>
> AMO is the software that powers <addons.mozilla.org>.  I think it
> would be handy to run that instead of the scheme-powered single-page
> table currently in use.
>
> I think that this would help keep IceCat on-par with Firefox and not
> introduce an unnescessary decrease in percieved quality that is the
> get-addons tab, as well as making patching mozilla.org URLs more
> straight-forward.
>
> Would this be welcome?  If I volunteered to figure-out/package/patch?
> the software, would it be accepted?
>
> --
> http://gnuzilla.gnu.org