Dear list,
I forward this message from Ruurd Reitsma about whether we want to
allow a port of LyX to Qt/Win non commercial edition.
Some context: Ruurd would like us to distribute this port (the
binaries for now), but this is only possible if we change our license
to explicitly allow for linking against Qt non-commercial binary-only
version.
Lars is not sure that he agrees with such a change, since we may not
want to allow the use of LyX under a non-free toolkit and OS (Lars,
correct me if I'm wrong). I am not sure where I stand myself.
Ruurd's port is certainly very useful for the users, but the moral
issue is important too.
Comments are of course welcome. A license change can only happen if
all contributors agree, anyway.
JMarc
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JM,
It seems that my usual mailserver has a personal conflict with yours, so here's
the reply I meant to send to you and Lars:
Gents,
I really do understand that you and most other lyx developers are quite
uncomfortable with this issue, as I'm an avid open source user myself.
(And that includes the ubiquitous open source OS). But.....I'd like to
give my point of view anyway.
I'd be a pity if a solution that is technically superior would not be
used. The use of a non-free library gives rise to a lot of practical
issues like availability, bug-fixing etc. Those can be overcome. We do
have to appreciate the fact that Trolltech cannot make enough money on
service alone, and has to sell a product to stay alive. Moreover, they
have made a very big contribution to the open-source world.
As for support of a non-free os: There's a difference between supporting
the OS as such and supporting applications that run on the OS. It's OK to
try to evangelise an open source OS by keeping a few killer apps tied to
that OS. However, not everybody has a choice, and most people don't have
a distant chance in influencing somebody else's choice. Anyway, the same
applies to the cygwin port. More use of open source software, still on a
non-free OS. Virtually all open source 'flagship' applications have a
win32 port, and I believe that's a very good thing.
Consequenly, it more or less revolves around the use of a non-free
library. It is highly unlikely anyone will ever create another frontend
that is based on a cross-platform toolkit. There are enough candidates,
but chances it will ever finish are 0. So, we're stuck with qt. People
have opted to use their commercial Qt licence to help development. That
will certainly solve most practical issues. Then...there's still that
uncomfortable feeling.......
Please feel free to start a thread on the devel list and quote me....
Cheerio,
Ruurd
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