On Sat, 14 Mar 2009, Phil Barnett wrote: Hi Phil,
>>> The reason for the Harbour exception was so that we could include the >>> macro compiler inside distributed executables without violating the GPL. >> Can you explain it? >> The macro compiler code is on exactly the same license as rest of Harbour >> HVM/RTL code. >> I do not ubnderstand why it needs some special excpetion and other things >> not. > Without the exception, I can't write propprietary code and release my > executable as non GPL because it's always linked to GPL code which makes my > executable subject to the GPL. The exception states that if I include the > macro compiler inside my otherwise nonGPL code, it does not make my code > GPL. Thank you very much. I knew about it. My question was why you were talking about macro compiler. What is the difference bvetween macro compiler and other Harbour code like HVM or RTL. > If I recall correctly, we also have a part of the exception that excludes > the macro compiler from being wrapped and being presented under a > copyright. This keeps our work safe from someone wrapping it and invoking > the exception. That is the exception to our exception. Without going back > and looking at the verbiage I don't recall if that actually made it in. It > was certainly discussed. Maybe I'm missing sth but whole macro compiler code seems to be on the same license as other Harbour runtime libraries. Only part of Harbour compiler has different license. To be precises these files does not contain Harbour exception and use pure GPL license: source/compiler/cmdcheck.c source/compiler/genc.c source/compiler/gencobj.c source/compiler/genhrb.c source/compiler/harbour.y source/compiler/hbfunchk.c source/compiler/hbgenerr.c source/compiler/hbident.c source/compiler/hbmain.c And I still want to change it. I would like to allow using Harbour compiler library in proprietary code but also add protection against creating some closed source compiler clones. Here pure LGPL seems to be much better for me. I'd only add one point: any modification/extensions to compiler code should be available in source (.diff) form at some public forums or sent to Harbour-devel list. I can rewrite above code (few things even have to be rewritten if we want to add some extensions) but personally I'd prefer to try to contact with developers who worked on this code and ask about their permission to change the license to LGPL (is possible with above exception) but it's not strictly necessary. best regards, Przemek _______________________________________________ Harbour mailing list Harbour@harbour-project.org http://lists.harbour-project.org/mailman/listinfo/harbour
