License compliance for programs which use cygwin.
VCDImager (cygiwin-1.3.6)
cdrdao (cygwin-1.1.8)
VCDEasy-full (BOTH cygwin's, since it includes the above)
I'm ignoring the issue of multiple cygwin versions installed on the same
system, which may conflict with a "real" cygwin environment on the
user's computer, and with each other....that's a different topic (and I
don't know what the "right" solution is, so...skip it)
Here, I'm only concerned with projects that are not complying with the
GPL license of the cygwin DLL. Since all of these projects are part of
the open-source milieu, I know that any infraction of the license of
another open-source project is unintentional...but violations should be
remedied.
Note that it's very easy for each of these projects to comply with
cygwin's license (the GPL): just
1) make their own source available (true already, for most of them)
2) put a tarball of the (appropriate) cygwin DLL source code on
their ftp site with their other downloads,
3) ditto for other cygwin-linked libraries (zlib, libxml, libjpeg)
if applicable
4) mention the availability of the source code for libraries
used to create their windows port somewhere on their
webpage (not strictly necessary, but what's the point of
1 -- 3 if you don't advertise it?)
5) A plug for the cygwin project itself (http://www.cygwin.com)
would be nice, but definitely not necessary for license compliance.
To dampen the inevitable arguments about the GPL:
If you distribute a binary (such as cygwin1.dll) that is under the GPL,
then YOU have to also distribute the source code for THAT binary. You
cannot just say "get the source over there, at cygwin.com". If you
don't believe me, READ the GPL. READ the commentary on it by RMS. In
addition, if you link your executable to a GPL'ed shared library (lik
cygwin1.dll), then you must distribute the source code for your
executable, as well, or you lose the right to use cygwin1.dll. It's all
there in the GPL.
Chuck
cygwin hacker
VCDEasy includes:
cdrdao-1.1.5
which contains cygwin1.dll-1.1.8
cdrdao doesn't distribute the source of cygwin,
although it is opensource itself. They DO
distribute a cygwin-linked "windows" binary
along with a copy of cygwin1.dll itself
(but no mention of the cygwin project anywhere)
BTW: not even cygwin distributes or uses this old
version anymore. Fortunately, the VCDImager guys
went thru the effort of extracting from CVS and
creating a cygwin-1.1.8 tarball, back when they
were using that old version. The cdrdao guys could
a) get it from them & redistribute it, or b) update
to a newer cygwin and get the source from us.
mjpeg-tools
which contains cygwin1.dll-1.3.6 and cygjpeg6b.dll
Now, the mjpegtools project doesn't seem to provide
windows binaries; the windows (e.g. cygwin) port
seems to be something the VCDEasy folks did.
VCDImager
which contains cygwin1.dll-1.3.6, cygz.dll, and cygxml-2.dll
VCDImager provides the src for cygwin, but not
zlib or xml. (Actually, they provide LOTS of different
src tarballs -- probably more than they need to -- but
all for various versions of cygwin, not zlib/xml.
So, to sum up:
VCDImager project: seems mostly compliant; need a reminder to
include also OTHER source code (zlib, libxml)
cdrdao: open source, but not complying with the cygwin GPL.
they need to distribute the source for:
cygwin-1.1.8
mjpeg-tools: they don't distribute cygwin-linked binaries, so
they are under no obligation to distribute cygwin sources.
VCDEasy (includes all of the above): provides no source, whatsoever,
for cygwin, cygwin-linked binaries, cygwin-linked dlls, nothing.
NADA. ZILCH. Totally non-compliant.
VCDEasy needs to distribute the source for:
cygwin-1.1.8
cygwin-1.3.6
zlib
libxml
jpeg
mjpeg-tools
vcdimager
cdrdao
AND
itself.
Contact info:
VCDImager: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cdrdao: Manuel Clos at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
mjpeg-tools: (not needed)
VCDEasy: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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