Re: Ada and licensing

[Markus E L <development-2006-8ecbb5cc8aREMOVETHIS@ANDTHATm-e-leypold.de>]

Dirk Heinrichs wrote:

> anon wrote:
>
>> Problem is that there are a few, close source Linux's device drivers that
>> people can download and use for their cameras/video device drivers that
>> are written in Ada. So unless that code become GPL and open source the
>> decive will not work as of Jan 2008.
>
> They could have been written in perl. The language used is completely
> irrelevant for this thread. If they are not GPL, they will not work
> anymore, no matter what language was used.
>
>> Also, some applications do require special modules or direcet links into
>> a module.  And that the problem.
>
> ... of poor design.
>
>> Plus at the movement in GNAT Ada83..2005 the "pragma License" is
>> non-functional other than the GNAT compiler warning. The compiler does
>> not insert the correct information that the GNU/GCC will require for
>> that feature in Jan, 2008. So, if your using GNAT or any other Ada that
>> does not support the GPL license requirement by Jan, 2008, Linux
>> might not load module.
>
> That's indeed a problem that should be fixed asap.

Last time I looked, _linux_ modules didn't use pragma License or any
specific compiler support to check module license. And the C part of
the compiler AFAIR remember never cared much for license checking
(though that might have changed). Sorry, at first glance it looks like
another one of those anon ideas, esp. since it involves GPL, the GNAT
and GCC compilers and the Linux kernel. This is the Bermuda triangle
of anon's understanding where strange things happen and outsiders are
lost in strange dreams of bewildering concepts ("there can only be one
GPL, it's THE LAW", for example).

Therefore I won't even bother to check anon's assertions being give a
source. Chances are to high it's a manifestation from anon's parallel
universe. I don't say he's wrong. I only say: Even checking wether he
is won't happen, until some references to sources are given and until
then: Be very cautious to believe.

Regards -- Markus