Posted by
ryuzaki0
on from the gnu-news-is-good-news dept.
An AC sent in this: "The FSF has posted a new FAQ at gnu.org covering the GPL. It explains their perspective on a lot of the issues discussed on Slashdot in the last couple of days."
RMS is on the right track here
by
Bruce+Perens
·
· Score: 5
MS is trying to paint FSF and the GPL as dangerous, and RMS responds with a sensible, calm, reasonable, and friendly document that is 100% positive information. Knowing Richard, this has to be an extremely frustrating time for him. There have been times when he hasn't been able to rise above the frustration as he has with this document. I'm very happy to see it.
I'm writting a Windows application with Microsoft Visual C++ and I will be releasing it under the GPL. Is dynamically linking my program with the Visual C++ run-time library permitted under the GPL?
Yes, because that run-time library normally accompanies the compiler you are using
So even though the VC runtimes aren't "a major component of the operating system", because they are distributed seperately, according to this I can still use them.
Can I use the GPL for a plug-in for a non-free program?
If the program uses fork and exec to invoke plug-ins, then the plug-ins are separate programs, so the license for the main program makes no requirements for them. So you can use the GPL for a plug-in, and there are no special requirements.
OK, so I can't turn VirtuaDub into COM component. But if I register it with COM+ and run it in a seperate process, then it's OK?
I'd like to modify GPL-covered programs and link them with the portability libraries from Money Guzzler Inc. I cannot distribute the source code for these libraries, so any user who wanted to change these versions would have to buy those libraries. Why doesn't the GPL permit this?
So I can use operating system runtimes, and Visual C++ runtimes, but I can't use 3rd party runtimes that don't happen to ship with a compiler. I take from this I probably could write a J2SE GPL application (using included libraries) but not a J2EE version (which might be from a 3rd party). So, the question is -- Is Microsoft's GPLed software shipping with Interix legal?!? --
Hardly. Open Source is a very savvy capitalistic move in a chess game between the centralists (e.g. Microsoft) and the individualists (John Galt, RMS, and a lot of/.); the net effect of this move is to forestall the collective from locking us out of our chosen profession. Both sides are playing to win, just like all good capitalists. They were willing to risk our stake to assure their gain. Rather than whining like marxists, we countered with an offer to put their stakes at risk to protect our livelihoods.
Very few programers make mounds of cash selling software. But we do make a nice living in a world where there is lots of source code. Open Source tilts the scales in our favour.
Sounds a heck of a lot like enlightened self-interest to me!
Slashdot Mirror
Thanks
Bruce
Bruce Perens.
I'm writting a Windows application with Microsoft Visual C++ and I will be releasing it under the GPL. Is dynamically linking my program with the Visual C++ run-time library permitted under the GPL?
Yes, because that run-time library normally accompanies the compiler you are using
So even though the VC runtimes aren't "a major component of the operating system", because they are distributed seperately, according to this I can still use them.
Can I use the GPL for a plug-in for a non-free program?
If the program uses fork and exec to invoke plug-ins, then the plug-ins are separate programs, so the license for the main program makes no requirements for them. So you can use the GPL for a plug-in, and there are no special requirements.
OK, so I can't turn VirtuaDub into COM component. But if I register it with COM+ and run it in a seperate process, then it's OK?
I'd like to modify GPL-covered programs and link them with the portability libraries from Money Guzzler Inc. I cannot distribute the source code for these libraries, so any user who wanted to change these versions would have to buy those libraries. Why doesn't the GPL permit this?
So I can use operating system runtimes, and Visual C++ runtimes, but I can't use 3rd party runtimes that don't happen to ship with a compiler. I take from this I probably could write a J2SE GPL application (using included libraries) but not a J2EE version (which might be from a 3rd party). So, the question is -- Is Microsoft's GPLed software shipping with Interix legal?!?
--
Business. Numbers. Money. People. Computer World.
Q1. Can I use the source code in any way I like?
A1. That's right.
Q2. Can I hold you responsible if it doesn't do what I expect it to do?
A2. Nope.
Q3. Fair enough, thanks.
A3. No problem.
--------
K.I.S.S.
How we know is more important than what we know.
Very few programers make mounds of cash selling software. But we do make a nice living in a world where there is lots of source code. Open Source tilts the scales in our favour.
Sounds a heck of a lot like enlightened self-interest to me!
--MarkusQ