Re: License and Compiler Confusion

[Jeffrey Creem <jeff@thecreems.com>]

mamboking wrote:
> I was wondering who is maintaining the runtime libraries?  Is it the
> gcc folks or AdaCore?  Is it possible that there could ever be a fork
> in the runtime libraries where something new is added to the GPL
> version and can't be added to the GMGPL?
> 
> Just curious.
> 
> Kevin Hostelley
> 

The driving force behind the compiler and run time libraries still is 
largely AdaCore even in the FSF tree though there is certainly some work 
  that happens on Ada in the FSF tree that is not done by people working 
for AdaCore. (I am basing this on gcc developer list traffic and SVN/CVS 
checkin messages browsed informally over many months)

Anything that gets added to the GPL version is by definition coming from 
AdaCore (since they are the ones that release the GPL version). So, if 
they create something and decide to not include it in the FSF tree then 
this could happen.

It is also theoretically possible that at some point the FSF tree could 
change to pure GPL.

Having said that, there has been zero traffic on the GCC developers list 
discussing any switch of the runtime license within that tree and it is 
certainly something that I would think would require steering committee 
approval.

Not contributing patches, new files, features, etc to the FSF tree would 
of course not require approval from anyone.

So, the short answer is yes it is possible that there could be a "fork" 
or other development approach where the two diverge.


I would guess that AdaCore probably has done "enough" to prevent 
themselves from competing against themselves by not releasing official 
GMGPL AdaCore versions of GNAT. They made the business decision to move 
into the GCC tree because they thought it would add value to themselves 
and their customers. If something changes, they could step away from 
that. It is probably not worth speculating on if/when/why this might 
happen.

If you go with a pure proprietary vendor for some product and they 
decide to "walk away" from it, you are totally stuck. At least if 
AdaCore, FSF or anyone "walks away" or closes the door on future GMGPL 
versions of Ada support in GCC, you or the community has the chance of 
keeping it somewhat alive