Linux Users, Do You Use Non-Free Software?
Linux Users, Do You Use Non-Free Software?
https://linuxiac.com/linux-users-do-you-use-non-free-software/
Publish Date: 2026-02-04 14:42:00
Source Domain: linuxiac.com
Most of us are proud to run only free software on our Linux systems. In reality, though, this is not entirely true (a topic for another article). To a large extent, modern Linux workstations, especially desktops, can rarely meet today’s user expectations without relying on at least some non-free software.
In fact, many of us are probably using more of it than we realize. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself whether you’re running non-free software, and if so, which ones? That’s where an interesting little tool comes in, one I’d like to introduce here: vmrs, short for virtual Richard M. Stallman.
Originally developed in the Debian ecosystem, vrms is a utility that checks installed packages and reports those that do not comply with the Debian Free Software Guidelines. Instead of removing software or enforcing policy, vrms focuses on transparency, giving users visibility into which parts of their system fall outside Debian’s definition of free software.
In Debian (and its derivatives), this concept is reflected in the official check-dfsg-status (vrms transitional package name) tool. It evaluates installed packages using Debian’s own metadata, distinguishing between software that belongs in the main archive and packages classified as non-free or contrib. Just install it, launch it, and you’ll see output similar to what’s shown below.
Check for non-free software installed on Debian.
A similar idea has been adapted for RPM-based distributions through vrms-rpm, a community-maintained project that brings the virtual Richard M. Stallman concept to Fedora, RHEL, openSUSE, and related systems.
Instead of relying on Debian’s DFSG categories, vrms-rpm analyzes RPM license tags and compares them against configurable license allowlists, such as Fedora’s approved licenses or SPDX-based definitions.
Despite differences in implementation, both tools serve the same purpose: identifying installed software that does not meet the…
