🚀 go-pugleaf

Note: I've redirected followups to gnu.misc.discuss

In article <1992Aug20.033858.2089@prim> prim!dave@germany.eu.net (Dave Griffiths) writes:
> In article <KHERA.92Aug19091232@thneed.cs.duke.edu> khera@cs.duke.edu (Vivek Khera) writes:
> >I'd be happy with an Object class, so I can at least start writing my
> >own stuff using gcc.
> > ...
> >
> >Of course, I think that the base Object class should be totally
> >unencumbered by the GPL, like the rest of the gcc runtime support
> >library.  That way, if you write your own Object library, the
> >resulting binary image will not fall under the GPL unless you want it
> >that way.  Of course, the object library should be under the same
> >terms as libg++ or GNU libc.
>
> ...
>
>As for a binary object library coming under GNU licence conditions, this
>is a _bad_ idea because it shuts out commercial developers and thus ultimately
>hurts the consumer. I mean suppose someone went and developed AREXX for the
>NeXT and then slapped a GNU licence on it - it would be useless because no
>commercial apps would be able to use it.
>
>Dave Griffiths


Its all matter of your point of view.

Personally, I'd prefer that these object libraries be covered by the GPL
One of the primary reasons that everyone is moving to objects is for
inheritance.  And although you can inherit without source, it's easier
if you start with the source.

I believe that there are enough contributors who will contribute objects
with source that the FSF libraries will have viable growth paths.  Whereas
object libraries without source will be stagnant.

Furthermore, I'd say that it's ironic for you to argue that the GPL is
going to lock out commercial developers;  when it's the GPL [and NeXT's
contribution of their Objective-C compiler mods] that has actually opened
up the market in the first place.

But I'd agree that it would be good for the basic runtime support to be
completely unencumbered.  Here I'm caught in a morass of mixed emotions.
If the basic runtime support were unemcumbered by the GPL, then commercial
developers could reasonably develop multi-platform applications in
Objective-C and we might see more commercial support for the NeXT.

BTW, just what does the GLPL say about object source that either
Is-A or Has-A GLPL object?


dwight shih					dwight@s1.gov