From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: "Dennis McCunney" To: "'David Case'" , Subject: RE: cygwin and GPL (again) Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 19:14:00 -0000 Message-id: <003301c096fd$54ddfae0$17bbca97@Arda> References: <20010214182246.E261136@gamow.scripps.edu> X-SW-Source: 2001-02/msg00834.html > -----Original Message----- > From: cygwin-owner@sources.redhat.com > [ mailto:cygwin-owner@sources.redhat.com]On Behalf Of David Case > Sent: 2001. February 14. 21:23 > To: cygwin@cygwin.com > Subject: Re: cygwin and GPL (again) > > On Wed, Feb 14, 2001, Christopher Faylor wrote: > > > > Btw, if you use Cygwin in an application, the application > > automatically becomes free software. Just so you know. > > Just so *I* know, isn't the above oversimplified? Not exactly. > If I *distribute* an application linked to cygwin to others, > I am obliged to follow GPL-like rules for the whole application.\ > But simply *using* cygwin (e.g. to compile some code that expects > a Unix environment) for my own use should not taint the code. > Is this not correct? AFAIK and IANAL: Depends. If your code links to the Cygwin1.dll, which is GPLed, your code becomes GPLed too. If your code uses the MS run-time, it does not become GPLed. And the whole question is moot if you don't distribute your software to others, but just build for your own use. I believe "if you use Cygwin in an application" above, should be read as "if your application uses the Cygwin1.dll". There is nothing I am aware of in the GPL that says you can't use GNU tools to build non-GNU software. There _is_ such a restriction on the use of GPLed _code_. If you are simply using the GNU compiler to compile code you have written, linked against non-GPLed libraries, I see no issue. > As a somewhat more realistic example, if I distribute source > code under conditions other than the GPL, and suggest to users > that they could use the cygwin package to compile my code on > their Windows machine, would such a suggestion somehow make the > source code free software? The essense of free software is that the folks who use it _can_ get the source code. The essense of the GPL is that you will provide the source code, and that you will _tell_ the people who use your application that you will do so. Most of the questions about the GPL here have taken the form of "Do I have to distribute my source _with_ my application, or can I provide it seperately?" My understanding of the GPL is that you _can_ provide it seperately, as long as you make clear to the users you _will_ do so, and that you do so in a fashion convenient to the users. Many folks don't want/can't use the source, but those that do should be able to get it on demand. > ...thanks for any clarification....dac I believe the above is accurate. If not, I _know_ I will hear about it. > David A. Case | e-mail: case@scripps.edu _________________________ Dennis McCunney mccunney@bellatlantic.net -- Want to unsubscribe from this list? Check out: http://cygwin.com/ml/#unsubscribe-simple