4 ms·

I as a user can't use GPL'ed software freely.

mhh__ 6y ago
When was the last time you redistributed modified software as a user? You can benefit from free software without ever writing a line of code.
- bifrost 6y ago
  Not that long ago, its why I primarily use BSD/MIT/etc licensed software.
  - mhh__ 6y ago
    And you weren't happy giving out the source code? Even if you weren't charging money for this I'm struggling to be sympathetic
  - 411111111111111 6y ago
    In what context? I currently struggle imaging a situation. There is no obligation to upstream anything after all, you just gotta provide the code if someone asks... And why would you care as a user?
- russh 6y ago
  Yesterday.
  - mhh__ 6y ago
    Example?
- hakfoo 6y ago
  I could see it for things like electronics projects where the firmware gets modified as a form of configuration. You might want to give out or sell customized devices, adapted to the specific user or deployment. The end user typically only wants the binary, so distributing the source is at best a good-faith-waste-of-time and at worst an opportunity to cause support problems. The example I'm thinking of is keyboards running QMK firmware-- it's literally customized by editing a bunch of C and recompiling.
  - mhh__ 6y ago
    If you do this for your own personal consumption you aren't violating the GPL, and if you do this for other people all you have to do is give out the source code when asked.
rascul 6y ago
What is stopping you from using GPL'ed software freely?
- bifrost 6y ago
  The license, I'm not a fan of violating licenses. I get that most people do it anyways, I'd just prefer not to.
  - rascul 6y ago
    What about the license prevents you?
    - bifrost 6y ago
      The fact that its not free, like the BSD/MIT/etc licenses.
      - rascul 6y ago
        I'm trying to understand your argument but you're not giving much clarification. I don't understand why you can't use GPL software freely.
        kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
        The general gripe of such people is that copyleft prevents you from distributing custom changes to other entities without sharing the source. That one catch is "less free" than the utopia where anyone can take code without a stick making them contribute back to foster the ecosystem.
  - yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago
    What would you possibly do as a user that would run afoul of a a GPL license? It doesn't do anything unless you redistribute it
    - 6y ago

When was the last time you redistributed modified software as a user? You can benefit from free software without ever writing a line of code.

bifrost 6y ago
Not that long ago, its why I primarily use BSD/MIT/etc licensed software.
- mhh__ 6y ago
  And you weren't happy giving out the source code? Even if you weren't charging money for this I'm struggling to be sympathetic
- 411111111111111 6y ago
  In what context? I currently struggle imaging a situation. There is no obligation to upstream anything after all, you just gotta provide the code if someone asks... And why would you care as a user?
russh 6y ago
Yesterday.
- mhh__ 6y ago
  Example?
hakfoo 6y ago
I could see it for things like electronics projects where the firmware gets modified as a form of configuration. You might want to give out or sell customized devices, adapted to the specific user or deployment. The end user typically only wants the binary, so distributing the source is at best a good-faith-waste-of-time and at worst an opportunity to cause support problems. The example I'm thinking of is keyboards running QMK firmware-- it's literally customized by editing a bunch of C and recompiling.
- mhh__ 6y ago
  If you do this for your own personal consumption you aren't violating the GPL, and if you do this for other people all you have to do is give out the source code when asked.

rascul 6y ago

What is stopping you from using GPL'ed software freely?

bifrost 6y ago
The license, I'm not a fan of violating licenses. I get that most people do it anyways, I'd just prefer not to.
- rascul 6y ago
  What about the license prevents you?
  - bifrost 6y ago
    The fact that its not free, like the BSD/MIT/etc licenses.
    - rascul 6y ago
      I'm trying to understand your argument but you're not giving much clarification. I don't understand why you can't use GPL software freely.
      - kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
        The general gripe of such people is that copyleft prevents you from distributing custom changes to other entities without sharing the source. That one catch is "less free" than the utopia where anyone can take code without a stick making them contribute back to foster the ecosystem.
- yjftsjthsd-h 6y ago
  What would you possibly do as a user that would run afoul of a a GPL license? It doesn't do anything unless you redistribute it
  - 6y ago