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Free software is about the users ability to understand how the software works, modify it to their whim, and distribute their modifications or changes. Since pe
by zanny 12y ago
Free software is about the users ability to understand how the software works, modify it to their whim, and distribute their modifications or changes.
Since permissive licenses enable downstream users to recast the project into a proprietary state, denying those freedoms, then they are less free, in the free software sense.
Permissive licenses are developer friendly. They let you do whatever you want, including restricting users of your software. Copyleft is user and ecosystem friendly, by making it so any use of the code must stay available.
- clarry 12y agoThe user/developer divide is the worst excuse for the GPLs' restrictions. Once users "modifiy it to their whim" and distribute the changes, they're developers and distributors. At that point, it's the developers' and distributors' freedoms that matter to them.
- air 12y agoAs an end user: I can combine GPLv2 (eg. linux kernel) and BSD licensed code, and distribute it. I can combine GPLv3 and BSD licensed code, and distribute it. I cannot combine GPLv2 and GPLv3 licensed code, and distribute it. As an end user, I like BSD licensed code more.
- jimktrains2 12y agoExcept the BSD licensed code may not be available for you to distribute or play with; that's the crux of the issue.
- bronson 12y agoThat's true of GPL code too... If my project is GPLv2, then GPLv3 code is not available to distribute or play with. Personally I'm happy for people to use and modify the code I've given away, even if they don't choose to give back their changes.
- deleted 12y ago[deleted]
- jimktrains2 12y agoWe're talking about 2 different issues. If your project is GPL anyone using it could/should be able to get the source. With a BSD project that is not necessarily true.
- bronson 12y agoIn theory you could see it, but you couldn't think about it or use it -- you need to follow clean room rules. It's two sides of the same issue: either way, the code is not available to you.
- jimktrains2 12y agoWe're still not talking about the same thing. I'm talking about the project you're using and need source for. You're talking about using other projects in another.
- bronson 12y agoWe're not? It sounds like we are... If the project that you're using and need source for is GPLv2, and the code you want to use is GPLv3, then you cannot use it (and it might not be good idea to even look at it -- depends on how litigious that other project is)