Binary distribution and DLLs

Jason Pyeron jpyeron@pdinc.us
Mon Nov 2 15:07:00 GMT 2009


 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Corinna Vinschen
> Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 9:58
> Subject: Re: Binary distribution and DLLs
> 
> On Nov  2 09:46, Jason Pyeron wrote:
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Corinna Vinschen
> > > Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 7:38
> > > Subject: Re: Binary distribution and DLLs
> > > 
> > > On Oct 31 15:08, Jon Beniston wrote:
> > > > Hi,
> > > > 
> > > > I want to distribute a binary build of some software 
...
> > 
> > While I am sure he is, I think he is looking for a way to 
> deliver his 
> > application to users who may not want the source or other 
> features of 
> > cygwin. I
> 
> I'm not sure he is and the user rights come first per the 

I am assuming he is, so I can talk about a finer point. If he was not, then your
first response informed him.

> GPL.  Not only that the application has to be put under an 
> OSS license, it's also required to distribute the Cygwin DLL 
> with sources, accoding to the GPL Section 3)
> 
>     a) Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable
>     source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections
>     1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software 
> interchange;

Link 1: download with source (250MB)
Link 2: download without source (12MB)

Installing from link2:

Installer asks, would you like to download the source?


> 
> or
> 
>     b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three
>     years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your
>     cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete
>     machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be
>     distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium
>     customarily used for software interchange;
> 

Vendor X keeps archived copies for 3 years, and provides them as requested
(preferably on the www)

> Paragraph c) isn't valid here.
> 
> This is the right of the user of the software.  You must 
> offer the sources in one of these ways, or you're violating 
> the GPL.  If the user doesn't exercise this right, it's the 
> user's choice, not the distributor's choice.

I am not advocating any GPL violation. I am simply advocating a prescriptive way
for the Vendor Xs out there to do what they belive their users want and still
maintain compliance with not only the GPL but cygwin best practices.

Best practice #1, don't slap the cygwin.dll around, use setup.exe...

-jason


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