SPITBOL question (GNAT related)

SPITBOL question (GNAT related)

[axtens]

G'day everyone,

I'm confused by some legalese in the headers for the SPITBOL routines,
namely:

-- As a special exception,  if other files  instantiate  generics from
this --
-- unit, or you link  this unit with other files  to produce an
executable, --
-- this  unit  does not  by itself cause  the resulting  executable
to  be --
-- covered  by the  GNU  General  Public  License.  This exception
does not --
-- however invalidate  any other reasons why  the executable file
might be --
-- covered by the  GNU Public
License.                                      --

What does this actually mean?

I'm curious because I want to use the spitbol routines in a commercial
package. The idea is to take the code, make it UTF-16 aware, compile
it to a DLL and then use that DLL in my employer's software.

I'm quite happy, and my employer is also, to release the modified code
back into the wild.

Kind regards,
Bruce.

Re: SPITBOL question (GNAT related)

[Samuel Tardieu]

>>>>> "Bruce" == axtens  <Bruce.Axtens@gmail.com> writes:

Bruce> G'day everyone, I'm confused by some legalese in the headers
Bruce> for the SPITBOL routines, namely:

Bruce> -- As a special exception, ...

Bruce> What does this actually mean?

That you can use it in a proprietary package, you got it right.

Bruce> The idea is to take the code, make it UTF-16 aware, compile it
Bruce> to a DLL and then use that DLL in my employer's software.

As long as you start from a version of GNAT.Spitbol that has the
above-mentionned exception, this is ok.

Bruce> I'm quite happy, and my employer is also, to release the
Bruce> modified code back into the wild.

Excellent news :)

  Sam
-- 
Samuel Tardieu -- sam@rfc1149.net -- http://www.rfc1149.net/