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How come? The practical difference between AGPL and GPL is that the term "distribution" now includes distribution via network aka SaaS. Now I can see how this

How come? The practical difference between AGPL and GPL is that the term "distribution" now includes distribution via network aka SaaS. Now I can see how this might be a problem for code libraries, infrastructure system etc but the only reason to worry about AGPL in an end user application context is the desire to repackage and sell commercially. Aka do the Amazon thing.

jddj 3y ago
It's the obligatory copyleft is not free software astroturfing comment. Prompt is here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37611571 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37611571 -- More seriously and charitably though, affero is vaguely scary because there's a (perhaps misunderstood, but I can understand) feeling that if you cooperate with it in any way in the backend and then a value-added product of that interaction makes it to a user of yours then you're up for copyright infringement. This isn't a reason not to release under affero, nor is it a bad thing that entities producing non-free software need to take care what they leverage, but I can see how the decision could be made to avoid using agpl style software whereever possible to err on the side of caution. A good example is ghostscript. At what point does an app converting PDFs to images (to display thumbnails, for example) as a small part of its workflow become an aggregate of that free software? According to the faq it ends up being a fairly subjective question of form and intent. Syscalls or static linking? Etc.
- leanable 3y ago
  From your experience using Affero, could you explain a bit more on how to safely and correctly separate unrelated code from Affero code? What is often misunderstood about Affero?
  - jddj 3y ago
    Unfortunately I'm not a lawyer and wouldn't want to mislead anyone. The best I can do is direct people to the GNU FAQs on the topic
  - ljf 3y ago
    Hey - guessing you are banned (or shadow banned) for making a 2nd account to comment on a thread/submission you posted on another account. Was there a good reason to do that?
    - ljf 3y ago
      Reply to parent, as I cannot reply to there sub reply to me: As I could not reply to your other thread as you were banned
    - leanable 3y ago
      For this sub-thread, it would be good if you can be on the topic of Affero rather than the topic of HN. Looks like it was a shadow for the past 22 hours, but it looks like it has been lifted by dang, and the comments appear now.

jddj 3y ago

It's the obligatory copyleft is not free software astroturfing comment. Prompt is here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37611571 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37611571 -- More seriously and charitably though, affero is vaguely scary because there's a (perhaps misunderstood, but I can understand) feeling that if you cooperate with it in any way in the backend and then a value-added product of that interaction makes it to a user of yours then you're up for copyright infringement. This isn't a reason not to release under affero, nor is it a bad thing that entities producing non-free software need to take care what they leverage, but I can see how the decision could be made to avoid using agpl style software whereever possible to err on the side of caution. A good example is ghostscript. At what point does an app converting PDFs to images (to display thumbnails, for example) as a small part of its workflow become an aggregate of that free software? According to the faq it ends up being a fairly subjective question of form and intent. Syscalls or static linking? Etc.

leanable 3y ago
From your experience using Affero, could you explain a bit more on how to safely and correctly separate unrelated code from Affero code? What is often misunderstood about Affero?
- jddj 3y ago
  Unfortunately I'm not a lawyer and wouldn't want to mislead anyone. The best I can do is direct people to the GNU FAQs on the topic
- ljf 3y ago
  Hey - guessing you are banned (or shadow banned) for making a 2nd account to comment on a thread/submission you posted on another account. Was there a good reason to do that?
  - ljf 3y ago
    Reply to parent, as I cannot reply to there sub reply to me: As I could not reply to your other thread as you were banned
  - leanable 3y ago
    For this sub-thread, it would be good if you can be on the topic of Affero rather than the topic of HN. Looks like it was a shadow for the past 22 hours, but it looks like it has been lifted by dang, and the comments appear now.