From reading the GPL, it would appear that Sage should print more information
than it currently does when it starts.
Specifically
1) State the program comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY when it starts up in
command line mode
2) Should display the fact the program is GPL if used in a browser, and indicate
how the user can see a full copy of the license. Currently when run in a
browser, there is no information about the GPL at all.
Section 2 says:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
c) If the modified program normally reads commands interactively
when run, you must cause it, when started running for such
interactive use in the most ordinary way, to print or display an
announcement including an appropriate copyright notice and a
notice that there is no warranty (or else, saying that you provide
a warranty) and that users may redistribute the program under
these conditions, and telling the user how to view a copy of this
License. (Exception: if the Program itself is interactive but
does not normally print such an announcement, your work based on
the Program is not required to print an announcement.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
After the end of the license, we see:
END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS
How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programsthere is a section on how to apply
the GPL to your own programs. It suggests:
----------------------------------------------------------------
If the program is interactive, make it output a short notice like this when it
starts in an interactive mode:
Gnomovision version 69, Copyright (C) year name of author
Gnomovision comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details
type `show w'. This is free software, and you are welcome
to redistribute it under certain conditions; type `show c'
for details.
The hypothetical commands `show w' and `show c' should show the appropriate
parts of the General Public License.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It's a minor point, but I believe the banner should be a bit longer and display
this information.
If run from a browser, which is clearly a normal way of using Sage, there is no
statement at all that the program is GPL at the minute. Looking at
http://t2nb.math.washington.edu:8000/
I can see
* No indication whatsoever the program is GPL
* No information it is free
* No information about how to see the license.
For all an end-user knows, this could be a propriety program.
Hence I believe we need to do two things.
1) Add the notice about ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY when the program starts in
command line.
2) Display a notice on the browser window that the program is GPL, say it has no
warranty etc, then say "To see the full terms of the license, type licence() at
the Sage prompt"
Comments?
Dave
--
To post to this group, send an email to sage-devel@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to
sage-devel+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sage-devel
URL: http://www.sagemath.org
