Re: GNAT GPL 2005: Too clever by half?

[Marin David Condic <nobody@noplace.com>]

Simon Wright wrote:
> 
> 
> But the only restriction is that if you compile with the GPL compiler
> and release *that* binary you are affected; if you recompile with any
> other GNAT you are not.

Fair enough, but will there be a GMGPL version of Ada05? One that will 
install-and-go rather than one my customers will have to build from 
sources? I can keep using Gnat 3.15p forever (as can my customers) but 
will that line of compilers ever result in an Ada05?

I understand that the Ada code *could* be compiled with a different 
compiler but a) Ada is not as portable as it wishes it were and b) going 
into the project, I've got to presume I won't have another compiler. (If 
I had another one, I'd probably use that one if this is the ultimate 
destination.)

I'm not going to say "ACT - You owe me a no cost binary release of all 
your compilers..." I hope I'm being really clear on that. I'm merely 
pointing out two issues I see: 1) Making a public Ada compiler release 
that creates images that may not be released except under the GPL should 
be very visibly noted lest the uninformed start making assumptions about 
what they can legally do or not. (especially since you can do that with 
gcc and other non-Ada compilers rather readily) 2) Lack of a no-or-low 
cost Ada compiler for Ada05 (without restrictions) could hurt adoption 
of Ada.

ACT can do as they want with all my blessings behind them and I hope 
they make lots of money and stay in business a long time. I'd also thank 
them for being wonderful guys and making public releases of Gnat in the 
past with no restrictions on what I can do with my own code. I hope that 
with Ada05, we get something similar lest it discourage Ada usage.


MDC


-- 
======================================================================
Marin David Condic
I work for: http://www.belcan.com/
My project is: http://www.jsf.mil/NSFrames.htm

Send Replies To: No.Mcondic.Spam@Del.Mindspring.Com
(Remove the "No.", ".Spam" and "Del." for the real address.)

     "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has
      been found difficult; and left untried."

         --  G. K. Chesterton
======================================================================