Re: GNAT GPL 2005 Edition is now available

[Niklas Holsti <nobody@nowhere.fi>]

Ludovic Brenta wrote:
> ...
> I think that the only ones who are really hurt by
> AdaCore's decision are the SMEs and individuals who want to write
> commercial software in Ada, but don't have the money to pay for
> AdaCore's (or other companies') support contracts.

I am in exactly this position. Of course AdaCore have the right to 
define the licenses for what they own and distribute. I think GNAT 
GPL 2005 Edition, as such, will be a good thing for Ada users who 
accept the GPL.

However, I worry about what this move by AdaCore implies for the 
future existence of a GMGPL GNAT (the FSF one, I guess). Does it 
make it more likely that AdaCore will reduce their support of such 
a GNAT? I hope that AdaCore will say something about that, in 
response to this discussion on c.l.a.

I always understood that the rationale for a free Ada compiler was 
to increase the respect for Ada and the usage of Ada overall, and 
so build a market for commercial compilers for those who need 
them. I believe GNAT has succeeded very well in this. The question 
is if AdaCore now have a different perception, or think that the 
middle ground (GMGPL) is not important in this market-building 
process.

My guess is that good and successful commercial software products 
built with Ada are better advertisements for Ada than GPL'ed Ada 
programs are, from the point of view of potential buyers of Ada 
compilers, because such products show that using Ada can be 
profitable. It is understandable and acceptable that AdaCore want 
some of that profit, but the current entry price is too high at 
least for me. Chicken and egg, again...

-- 
Niklas Holsti
Tidorum Ltd
niklas holsti tidorum fi
       .      @       .