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No, it's because it puts restrictions on use. Open source does not.

by Nursie 6y ago

shadowgovt 6y ago
The GPL does put restriction on use. If you make modification to the code and do not share those modifications, you are constrained from using the code you modified. And those constraints are for political reasons. The Four Freedoms are a political ideology about how software, developers, and users should morally interact, and the GPL exists as a legal tool to support this political ideology. Edit: clarification - by "use" here, I'm including "bundle it into a black box of hardware and sell that hardware."
- lelanthran 6y ago
  > The GPL does put restriction on use. No, it does not. It places restrictions on redistribution, not on use. You can use it no matter who or what you are. > If you make modification to the code and do not share those modifications, you are constrained from using the code you modified. Incorrect. You can modify and use it to your hearts content. You are only required to share your modifications source if you distribute the modified software.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
- galactus 6y ago
  That's wrong. It's only if you distribute the software you modified that you need to share those modifications. If you dont distribute it, you can use it without any restriction at all.
- Y_Y 6y ago
  > The GPL does put restriction on use. If you make modification to the code and do not share those modifications, you are constrained from using the code you modified. This is is only true if you consider distribution as part of "use". You're fully entitled to privately run modified GPL code, even as a server or whatevs if it's not AGPL.
- Nursie 6y ago
  Even your clarification is not use, it’s redistribution. You may think that’s an arbitrary line, that’s up to you, but a line it is.
lmilcin 6y ago
You are mistaking open source with free software. You can put as many restrictions as you want and still have open source. Open source just means you provide source with your product.

No, it's because it puts restrictions on use. Open source does not.

by Nursie 6y ago

No, it's because it puts restrictions on use. Open source does not.

The GPL does put restriction on use. If you make modification to the code and do not share those modifications, you are constrained from using the code you modified. And those constraints are for political reasons. The Four Freedoms are a political ideology about how software, developers, and users should morally interact, and the GPL exists as a legal tool to support this political ideology. Edit: clarification - by "use" here, I'm including "bundle it into a black box of hardware and sell that hardware."

lelanthran 6y ago
> The GPL does put restriction on use. No, it does not. It places restrictions on redistribution, not on use. You can use it no matter who or what you are. > If you make modification to the code and do not share those modifications, you are constrained from using the code you modified. Incorrect. You can modify and use it to your hearts content. You are only required to share your modifications source if you distribute the modified software.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
galactus 6y ago
That's wrong. It's only if you distribute the software you modified that you need to share those modifications. If you dont distribute it, you can use it without any restriction at all.
Y_Y 6y ago
> The GPL does put restriction on use. If you make modification to the code and do not share those modifications, you are constrained from using the code you modified. This is is only true if you consider distribution as part of "use". You're fully entitled to privately run modified GPL code, even as a server or whatevs if it's not AGPL.
Nursie 6y ago
Even your clarification is not use, it’s redistribution. You may think that’s an arbitrary line, that’s up to you, but a line it is.

lmilcin 6y ago

You are mistaking open source with free software. You can put as many restrictions as you want and still have open source. Open source just means you provide source with your product.