Re: Forking old GMGPL libs ?

[Simon Wright <simon@pushface.org>]

Patrick <patrick@spellingbeewinnars.org> writes:

> I am working on two projects. One of them is a data
> collection/analysis tool to help parents of special needs kids record
> data for use by professionals like speech therapists later. I want to
> release it with source code but I don't ever want anyone to end up
> being charged for it.

Laudable.

> I want it to be free-as-in-beer forever as well as well as open
> sourced. The FSF is against this. If you search on Ebay for basically
> any large FLOSS application, like Gimp for instance, you will find
> them being sold to people who already have internet connections
> (because they can bid)but again not a problem to the FSF that people
> are being charged $20 + shipping for Gimp, even though they could
> download it for free if they understood the situation. It's
> exploitation of people who don't understand whats available.
>
> Now I have to forgo all FSF licensed libraries and it's going to be
> harder. Sure I have GCC and the runtime exception for basic Ada use
> but what about all the GNAT libraries. I don't have $20K + lying
> around for the non-GPL versions.

I think you may have the wrong end of the stick here.

The point of the GMGPL (or the GCC Runtime Library Exception[1]) is that
it allows a software product to be distributed *without* the source
code:

    "You have permission to propagate a work of Target Code formed by
    combining the Runtime Library with Independent Modules, even if such
    propagation would otherwise violate the terms of GPLv3, provided
    that all Target Code was generated by Eligible Compilation
    Processes. You may then convey such a combination under terms of
    your choice, consistent with the licensing of the Independent
    Modules."

So, given GCC, your best bet is surely to write your own code uder the
GPL without the exception and to use similar libraries.

I don't see why people shouldn't offer a CD of GIMP on Ebay for £2.95 +
50p p&p. If I want a CD instead of downloading, why should you want to
stop me? If *you* provide me the software on a CD, won't you expect me
to pay for it?

[1]<http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gcc-exception.html>