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I can't include code under GPL in my own code without changing my own code to GPL. That's why it ruins my day.

by jakobe 15y ago

nileshtrivedi 15y ago
Only if you are distributing the combined work and not giving the source code along with it. Preventing that is the whole point of GPL.
- mikeash 15y ago
  It is indeed the whole point of the GPL. It also makes it impossible to use GPL code in a wide variety of situations. OP was asking what the problem was with the GPL, and that's what it is.
phillmv 15y ago
1. This only kicks in if you're distributing the program. If you're building a web service, you're good to go. It's only an issue if you're using the Affero GPL. 2. You're using free code off the internet. If you don't like the license terms, don't use it. It's within the author's prerogative to set his or her own license to his or her own code. (The most you can do is send them a politely worded email on how you want to use their code without being obliged to the virality clause - I imagine a lot of people would be okay with moving down to the LGPL at least. If not… deal with it.)
- jakobe 15y ago
  "You are using free code". It's not free. The cost for this "free" code is that I apply the same license to my own code. Of course the original author can put whatever license on their code. But the license effectively renders the code useless to me. Not because I dislike the GPL, but because I use a different license. And it's simply very disappointing when I see that someone has already solved a problem I'm struggling with, and advertises their "free" solution, that then turns out to be not free for me.
  - phillmv 15y ago
    >Of course the original author can put whatever license on their code. But the license effectively renders the code useless to me. Not because I dislike the GPL, but because I use a different license. I've learned through much harsher experiences than the one you describe that life is unfair.
- smackjer 15y ago
  And it's other people's prerogative if they choose to not use that code due to the license.
  - dfox 15y ago
    So they just shouldn't use the code. Not go off complaining how GPL if unfair and how it ruined their day.
- armandososa 15y ago
  You're using free code off the internet. If you don't like the license terms, don't use it That's what the OP is addressing. There should be an easy way to filter out code with licenses I'm not going to like.
jmillikin 15y ago
No, this is not true. If you include GPL'd code in your code, then your code's license is unchanged. You do not have to license your code under the GPL just to use GPL'd code.
- kevindication 15y ago
  Except that the GPL linking exception exists because of the taint that can be introduced by using GPL'd code. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPL_linking_exception https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPL_linking_exception
  - jmillikin 15y ago
    No, the GPL linking exception exists to allow proprietary code to link against GPL'd code. It is a common myth (propagated by anti-GPL activists) that using GPL'd code in your software requires you to put your software under the GPL. In reality, your code can be under nearly any open-source license. I often receive emails from users asking me to re-license one of my libraries from GPL to BSD/MIT so they can use it in their own open-source projects. These users are often confused when I tell them that they can have a BSD/MIT project depend on GPL'd code. Everyone who cares about the health of Free software (and open-source in general) should be careful not to fall prey to this misinformation campaign.
    - deleted 15y ago
      [deleted]
    - kevindication 15y ago
      Perhaps I was not clear, but I was saying the same thing as your first sentence. When people are concerned about including GPL in their work code (as the OP is) then they are typically concerned with issues of linking/importing/etc.
    - jabkobob 15y ago
      So are you saying I can copy and paste some useful functions from your GPL code into my BSD code? And then the next person can use my code (with the pasted code from your project) in their proprietary software, given they stick to the requirements from my BSD license? As far as I understand, the viral nature of the GPL does not allow this.

I can't include code under GPL in my own code without changing my own code to GPL. That's why it ruins my day.

by jakobe 15y ago

I can't include code under GPL in my own code without changing my own code to GPL. That's why it ruins my day.

Only if you are distributing the combined work and not giving the source code along with it. Preventing that is the whole point of GPL.

mikeash 15y ago
It is indeed the whole point of the GPL. It also makes it impossible to use GPL code in a wide variety of situations. OP was asking what the problem was with the GPL, and that's what it is.

phillmv 15y ago

1. This only kicks in if you're distributing the program. If you're building a web service, you're good to go. It's only an issue if you're using the Affero GPL. 2. You're using free code off the internet. If you don't like the license terms, don't use it. It's within the author's prerogative to set his or her own license to his or her own code. (The most you can do is send them a politely worded email on how you want to use their code without being obliged to the virality clause - I imagine a lot of people would be okay with moving down to the LGPL at least. If not… deal with it.)

jakobe 15y ago
"You are using free code". It's not free. The cost for this "free" code is that I apply the same license to my own code. Of course the original author can put whatever license on their code. But the license effectively renders the code useless to me. Not because I dislike the GPL, but because I use a different license. And it's simply very disappointing when I see that someone has already solved a problem I'm struggling with, and advertises their "free" solution, that then turns out to be not free for me.
- phillmv 15y ago
  >Of course the original author can put whatever license on their code. But the license effectively renders the code useless to me. Not because I dislike the GPL, but because I use a different license. I've learned through much harsher experiences than the one you describe that life is unfair.
smackjer 15y ago
And it's other people's prerogative if they choose to not use that code due to the license.
- dfox 15y ago
  So they just shouldn't use the code. Not go off complaining how GPL if unfair and how it ruined their day.
armandososa 15y ago
You're using free code off the internet. If you don't like the license terms, don't use it That's what the OP is addressing. There should be an easy way to filter out code with licenses I'm not going to like.

jmillikin 15y ago

No, this is not true. If you include GPL'd code in your code, then your code's license is unchanged. You do not have to license your code under the GPL just to use GPL'd code.

kevindication 15y ago
Except that the GPL linking exception exists because of the taint that can be introduced by using GPL'd code. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPL_linking_exception https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPL_linking_exception
- jmillikin 15y ago
  No, the GPL linking exception exists to allow proprietary code to link against GPL'd code. It is a common myth (propagated by anti-GPL activists) that using GPL'd code in your software requires you to put your software under the GPL. In reality, your code can be under nearly any open-source license. I often receive emails from users asking me to re-license one of my libraries from GPL to BSD/MIT so they can use it in their own open-source projects. These users are often confused when I tell them that they can have a BSD/MIT project depend on GPL'd code. Everyone who cares about the health of Free software (and open-source in general) should be careful not to fall prey to this misinformation campaign.
  - deleted 15y ago
    [deleted]
  - kevindication 15y ago
    Perhaps I was not clear, but I was saying the same thing as your first sentence. When people are concerned about including GPL in their work code (as the OP is) then they are typically concerned with issues of linking/importing/etc.
  - jabkobob 15y ago
    So are you saying I can copy and paste some useful functions from your GPL code into my BSD code? And then the next person can use my code (with the pasted code from your project) in their proprietary software, given they stick to the requirements from my BSD license? As far as I understand, the viral nature of the GPL does not allow this.