🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1993Jan25.003201.14014@bsu-ucs> 00bwanderson@leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu writes:

>A friend of mine recently got MachTen, and we were wondering if any free
>compilers were to be had (gcc, cc, etc...) instead of the MachTen developer's
>kit.  

The "MachTen Developer's kit" *is* gcc, plus a set of proprietary 
includes, libraries, etc. that is shipped only to people who buy 
the developer's kit.  Under the GNU GPL, someone who bought the 
developer's kit should have the right to make and redistribute 
copies of the gcc binaries, but they would not be of much use 
unless someone invests the time and effort required to recreate
workable free replacements for the Tenon-proprietary interfaces 
and libraries.  

Given that such a person would first have to pay for the Tenon
developer's kit, then do alot of work, and that the target 
platform is an Apple Macintosh running Mach _on top of_ MacOS,
well, I'd say the likelihood of a totally free development 
system for MachTen is small.

When I asked about this once before I was assured that Tenon
had complied with the GPL in its distribution of gcc.  Even if
that is the case, I can't imagine buying into a unix system
that withholds interfaces and libraries from "ordinary" users,
even when compilers and other development tools are "unbundled".
-- 
-- Bill Johnston (johnston@me.udel.edu)
-- 38 Chambers Street; Newark, DE 19711; (302)368-1949