Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!chaph.usc.edu!usc.edu!raulmill From: raulmill@usc.edu (Raul Deluth Rockwell) Newsgroups: gnu.misc.discuss Subject: FRILL Keywords: Freely Redistributable Implementations of Linked Libraries Message-ID: Date: 21 Dec 89 19:45:48 GMT References: Sender: news@chaph.usc.edu Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Lines: 38 In-reply-to: dld@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU's message of 20 Dec 89 16:33:00 GMT In many articles, [various people] write: >>> If I link with GNU I can't redistribute it the way I want. >> So link with your own code. > Ick. If there really is such an incredible demand for unencumbered linking libraries, it seems like sooner or later someone will write some 8^) However, since there are a number of good reasons for 'later' rather than 'sooner', and since there is an incredible volume of slightly heated traffic on the subject, here is my immodest proposal: (1) Design an elegant set of linking libraries which can be used in the place of GNU's. (2) Write them. (3) Work out an acceptable set of distribution terms (e.g. freely redistributable, $100000 per copy license fee, only on alternate Tuesdays, whatever...). (4) Distribute them. The current law of the land is, roughly: "He who writes the code gets to make the distribution rules." I like it that way, and I expect most of you do as well. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Aside: That linked libraries must be distributed with code is as least as much a technical detail as it is a moral issue. -- Raul Rockwell INTERNET: raulmill@usc.edu ! UUCP: ...uunet!usc!raulmill ! 55 mph = 82 nc U.S.SNAIL: 721 E Windsor #4, GLENDALE CA 91205 ! --