Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Dell Releases Streak Source Code

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the streaking-through-the-build dept.

RandyDownes writes "Members of the developer community called Dell out for not releasing the complete source code for the Android-powered slate, thus violating the GPL. Dell has since complied and released the total custom Android 1.6 ROM to the public. Maybe now someone can get the minitablet/smartphone to run Froyo without breaking everything."

5 of 83 comments (clear)

  1. Not exactly all the source by M+Moogle · · Score: 3, Informative

    It looks like Dell only released the parts that they're required to under the GPL - so the summary is wrong in saying they released the "total custom Android 1.6 ROM". However, the kernel alone should hopefully help get some custom ROMs started on this thing.

  2. Because of a lawsuit from the FSF by Meshach · · Score: 3, Informative

    The reason for the about face is probably a lawsuit against cisco from the Free Software Federation. This is a good thing that the actions of the FSF are forcing other companies to properly comply with the open source licenses they choose.

    --
    "Maybe this world is another planet's hell"
    Aldous Huxley
  3. Re:It's been what, a couple of months? by Abcd1234 · · Score: 3, Informative

    According to the license, you have to release source and binaries at the same time.

    No, according to the license, you have to provide it when asked for it. Otherwise mailing out floppies wouldn't have been allowed under the GPL.

  4. Android is Apache licensed, not GPL licensed by sphantom · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'd just like to add for those readers not in the know that Android uses Apache licensing. They're not required to publish any modifications to Android, only to the kernel since it's GPL and not Apache. As such, it's highly likely that we'll never see the entire ROM's source code.

  5. Re:It's been what, a couple of months? by bieber · · Score: 4, Informative
    Why is this nonsense being modded up? The GPL very explicitly states that you must include the source code or an offer to produce source code on demand.

    b) Convey the object code in, or embodied in, a physical product (including a physical distribution medium), accompanied by a written offer, valid for at least three years and valid for as long as you offer spare parts or customer support for that product model, to give anyone who possesses the object code either (1) a copy of the Corresponding Source for all the software in the product that is covered by this License, on a durable physical medium customarily used for software interchange, for a price no more than your reasonable cost of physically performing this conveying of source, or (2) access to copy the Corresponding Source from a network server at no charge.