Re: Objective Caml 2.03/4 released

[skaller <skaller@maxtal.com.au>]

Markus Mottl wrote:
> 
> > Why was such a grossly restrictive, anti-freedom licence chosen?
> > Or do I mis-understand it?
> 
> Well, some people would think the other way round... ;-)

	Of course: those with jobs working for Universities
of other institutions often forget where THEIR pay packets
come from. So they want to create a pool of software
exclusive to them. This is not freedom.

> > I've been working on a product using ocaml for some time,
> > and I need to make money out of it. The new licence seems
> > to preclude this, forcing me to give away my source.
> 
> I wouldn't say that there is reason for fearing that you cannot distribute
> your sources as binary only:

	I am glad you have this interpretation.
 
> The runtime system and other things that go into the executable are subject
> to the GNU *Library* General Public License.
> 
> This section might be relevant to you:
> 
>     4. You may copy and distribute the Library (or a portion or
>   derivative of it, under Section 2) in object code or executable form
>   under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you accompany it
>   with the complete corresponding machine-readable source code, 

	This includes modifications to the library.

> So if I get it right, the only thing you have to do when shipping your
> binaries is to either ship the sources *of the runtime libraries*, too, or
> to provide an URL to the distribution directory of INRIA so that people can
> always access the sources of the linked in libraries.

	I hope you get it right :-)
 
> > There was, some time in the past, a discussion
> > about persuading management to switch to ocaml.
> > The new licence is a guarrantee it will NEVER be used
> > for serious software development. No one can afford
> > to develop a production quality software, and then
> > be forced to give the it away.
> 
> If this were true, no commercial company would want to use gcc - and I am
> sure that there are plenty which do.

	Binaries produced by gcc can link dynamically to the
libraries, and so do not contain them.
 
> Reality also shows that it *is* possible to develop free software in
> production quality (and higher...).

	Yes, when the funding comes from some large organisation.
I'm a small organisation :-)

	When I have enough money coming in to be able to eat,
keep a roof over my head, and pay for computing facilities,
then perhaps I feel more confident giving away sources on the
basis that eventually enough people will want to pay me for support.

> in my eyes the results of public
> research *should* also stay free for the public.

	In my eyes, the people that fund the research own the results:
the public usually. But that is not the same as GPL'd software, which
prohibits
people adding value hiding the added value.

> I'd say that making money by writing software will sooner or later change
> to making money by providing support and consulting. Even Richard Stallman
> does not object to this - and, as far as I know, makes a living from it...

	I agree that this is desirable. I would like to reach that
position. But until I do, for example, while seeking funding for
further research and development, I'd like the option of preventing
other, better funded, organisations simply stealing my efforts.

-- 
John Skaller, mailto:skaller@maxtal.com.au
10/1 Toxteth Rd Glebe NSW 2037 Australia
homepage: http://www.maxtal.com.au/~skaller
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