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The kernel code is for Linux, which is already GPLv2, so I don't think it would help you much there. The userspace implementation is also GPLv2 at the moment.

by zx2c4 9y ago

The kernel code is for Linux, which is already GPLv2, so I don't think it would help you much there. The userspace implementation is also GPLv2 at the moment. What motivations do you have for desiring a BSD license? Plans to make non-free software?

jlgaddis 9y ago
An in-kernel {Free,Open}BSD implementation is my first thought.
loeg 9y ago
Porting to FreeBSD, where new GPL2 code in base is verboten. Whether you consider FreeBSD non-free or not is a matter of opinion. Even if the existing kernel implementation is highly tied to Linux, it is legally problematic for FreeBSD developers to reference GPL2 code while writing BSD-licensed code.
- zx2c4 9y ago
  I think for FreeBSD kernel-land, there will have to be significant rewrites, anyway, since the Linux code is fairly Linux-specific. At some point though, I'd love to do a kernel implementation for the BSDs (in addition to the userspace one, which is coming much sooner), and I suppose you could expect for that to be BSD-licensed, appropriately.
  - loeg 9y ago
    > I think for FreeBSD kernel-land, there will have to be significant rewrites, anyway, since the Linux code is fairly Linux-specific. Probably true! > At some point though, I'd love to do a kernel implementation for the BSDs If BSD developers can reference the Linux implementation's source, it is easier for them to go ahead and do it independently :-). Do you anticipate having time to do a BSD kernel implementation soon yourself, or is it just a would-be-nice idea on the infinite TODO list? I'm trying to gauge whether we should wait for you or try and do it ourselves.
justabystander 9y ago
It might not be about commercializing so much as including it in some of the *BSDs which don't allow for GPL code in the core. Otherwise, they'll probably have to write a new implementation. But yes, there is that risk.

by zx2c4 9y ago

jlgaddis 9y ago

An in-kernel {Free,Open}BSD implementation is my first thought.

loeg 9y ago

Porting to FreeBSD, where new GPL2 code in base is verboten. Whether you consider FreeBSD non-free or not is a matter of opinion. Even if the existing kernel implementation is highly tied to Linux, it is legally problematic for FreeBSD developers to reference GPL2 code while writing BSD-licensed code.

zx2c4 9y ago
I think for FreeBSD kernel-land, there will have to be significant rewrites, anyway, since the Linux code is fairly Linux-specific. At some point though, I'd love to do a kernel implementation for the BSDs (in addition to the userspace one, which is coming much sooner), and I suppose you could expect for that to be BSD-licensed, appropriately.
- loeg 9y ago
  > I think for FreeBSD kernel-land, there will have to be significant rewrites, anyway, since the Linux code is fairly Linux-specific. Probably true! > At some point though, I'd love to do a kernel implementation for the BSDs If BSD developers can reference the Linux implementation's source, it is easier for them to go ahead and do it independently :-). Do you anticipate having time to do a BSD kernel implementation soon yourself, or is it just a would-be-nice idea on the infinite TODO list? I'm trying to gauge whether we should wait for you or try and do it ourselves.

justabystander 9y ago

It might not be about commercializing so much as including it in some of the *BSDs which don't allow for GPL code in the core. Otherwise, they'll probably have to write a new implementation. But yes, there is that risk.