8 ms·

But I don't sell software. I sell machines with my software already installed. I don't send any binaries. What I can do?

jcelerier 6y ago
The same, like all phone manufacturers who allow you to download the Linux kernel's source code, or Tesla who allows you to download the Qt source code they use: https://github.com/teslamotors/qt https://github.com/teslamotors/qt
- quietbritishjim 6y ago
  My understanding is that it's not enough to provide the source code to the LGPL part. You need to provide a way that someone could use a modified version of that source with your application. (Indeed that is exactly what the top-level comment said.) That's because the point of GPL is not just to let you see code but also to hack around with it yourself. So if your program ships with dynamically linked qt.dll or qt.so (or whatever) then it's good enough to just provide the source code because they can just build their own qt.dll or qt.so with their own code and directly use your program with it. But if your program statically links QT then you also need to provide some files (e.g. object files) for your application along with instructions on how to link those with the QT archive or your modified replacement. I remember a comment here on Hacker News about a program (a Sun one I think) that did exactly that, or least provided a URL to download the object files and build instructions. So that means that if you provide a device containing GPL or LGPL code then you ought to provide a way to upload your own modified version onto that device. I'm not sure that's always true in practice, but that's the intention. If it's not possible, maybe the lawyers have figured out that a strict reading of the licence text doesn't actually require them to do that. Or maybe they simply don't adhere to the GPL properly but no one has dared to sue them.
  - rcxdude 6y ago
    that part varies between the (L)GPLv2 and (L)GPLv3. GPLv2 does not require it, GPLv3 does (so-called 'anti-tivoisation' clause: after Tivo used linux but locked the hardware so it would only run images they had signed). Current versions of Qt are LGPLv3 for most components though (and the rest are GPLv3)
- Rochus 6y ago
  Do you have information about which Qt version Tesla is using under which license? Do they allow to install and run user provided versions of Qt in their car?
Nokinside 6y ago
You don't have to send the files. You just have to provide access to said files somehow. Put them into your web page, send link in email. Print link into manuals or sales agreement. And whenever customer calls and asks to have them just send them the files.

jcelerier 6y ago

The same, like all phone manufacturers who allow you to download the Linux kernel's source code, or Tesla who allows you to download the Qt source code they use: https://github.com/teslamotors/qt https://github.com/teslamotors/qt

quietbritishjim 6y ago
My understanding is that it's not enough to provide the source code to the LGPL part. You need to provide a way that someone could use a modified version of that source with your application. (Indeed that is exactly what the top-level comment said.) That's because the point of GPL is not just to let you see code but also to hack around with it yourself. So if your program ships with dynamically linked qt.dll or qt.so (or whatever) then it's good enough to just provide the source code because they can just build their own qt.dll or qt.so with their own code and directly use your program with it. But if your program statically links QT then you also need to provide some files (e.g. object files) for your application along with instructions on how to link those with the QT archive or your modified replacement. I remember a comment here on Hacker News about a program (a Sun one I think) that did exactly that, or least provided a URL to download the object files and build instructions. So that means that if you provide a device containing GPL or LGPL code then you ought to provide a way to upload your own modified version onto that device. I'm not sure that's always true in practice, but that's the intention. If it's not possible, maybe the lawyers have figured out that a strict reading of the licence text doesn't actually require them to do that. Or maybe they simply don't adhere to the GPL properly but no one has dared to sue them.
- rcxdude 6y ago
  that part varies between the (L)GPLv2 and (L)GPLv3. GPLv2 does not require it, GPLv3 does (so-called 'anti-tivoisation' clause: after Tivo used linux but locked the hardware so it would only run images they had signed). Current versions of Qt are LGPLv3 for most components though (and the rest are GPLv3)
Rochus 6y ago
Do you have information about which Qt version Tesla is using under which license? Do they allow to install and run user provided versions of Qt in their car?

Nokinside 6y ago

You don't have to send the files. You just have to provide access to said files somehow. Put them into your web page, send link in email. Print link into manuals or sales agreement. And whenever customer calls and asks to have them just send them the files.