3 ms·

GPL'd code so not usable by most commercial projects

• tyingq 9y ago
  Given that it's relatively standalone, I don't see the issue. It wouldn't attach the GPL to your other code...there's no linking, etc. You would have to contribute any changes to this specific code back, but there's no secret sauce there. The bigger limiter, mentioned by other comments, is that it downloads every page in the rss feed to do the search. So it's workable for a smallish niche type site with a low page count, but not workable beyond that really.
  • mod50ack 9y ago
    If it's online and not Affero GPL you don't even need to give back your improvements, provided you don't distribute your improvements to others.
    • yodon 9y ago
      Affero doesn't apply here because this is stuff that downloads and runs on the user's machine. You absolutely are distributing the code to every visitor. That makes it straight GPL.
  • nerdponx 9y ago
    I feel like this is the browser equivalent of dynamic linking. That said, there's no way (yet) to DRM or otherwise prevent the user from obtaining the entire front end source, so it might be moot. Side question: what am I allowed and not allowed to do with webpage sources under US copyright law? If I cache the site and open a local copy, have I illegally reproduced a copyrighted work? What if I burned it to a CD? What if I e-mail a copy to a friend? What if I host my own version?
    • jsjohnst 9y ago
      IANAL, but... > cached locally That falls under US fair use laws I believe > burned a CD Again, fair use I believe > emailed a copy / hosted own version Likely is infringing, but not definitively. Distribution is generally not fair use, but there are some exceptions.
      • nerdponx 9y ago
        I was under the impression that ripping an MP3 from a CD constituted an illegal reproduction, so it's a little surprising to me that the law doesn't apply in the other direction.
        • jsjohnst 9y ago
          Depends on where you live. For example, in the UK I heard it's illegal again (has gone back and forth over the years).
      • LamaOfRuin 9y ago
        IANAL, but... You can't say anything definitively falls under fair use. Fair use is a case by case determination by a court limited to each specific instance (so if you do the same exact thing a second time it could be found to no longer be fair use).
  • yodon 9y ago
    Do you run webpack to minimize your code for download? Does that process of combining it all into one JS file trigger the GPL license virality (is it even legal to minimize GPL'd code with MIT licensed code)? IANAL but I sure wouldn't want to risk it. Maybe LGPL you could get away with, but GPL seems like a really bad idea for front end JavaScript libraries.
• quickthrower 9y ago
  Good! If you are commercial and you care then offer to pay for a commercial license and support the developer