padpowell@wateng.UUCP (PAD Powell) (02/04/85)
Uhm. As originator of the dynamic loading code, I will have to make the following statements: 1. The code was developed after consultations with some Berkeley people, esp. Bill Joy, who suggested the method. 2. The original version was modelled on the source of the FRANZ LISP code. However, it has been extensivly modified. 3. As far as I am concerened, it is in the public domain. If anybody wants to publish this horrible thing under their name, feel free. If the flames I have received are any indication, you better cover your head when people toast you about programming standards. 4. The original FRANZ LISP routines, which appear to be coded by a 1st year C.S. student, have a copyright "Regents of U.C. Berkeley". If I were them, I would insist that my name be removed from this execratable hack. Failing that, I would deny any relationship with the code. There is an interesting question about the limits of copyright, especially in algorithms. I think that the material I developed is far enough removed from the original as to not be covered by the original copyright. 5. Note, however, that the include files <a.out>, as for forth, are definately not in the public domain. 6. There is a subtle problem with putting things on the net, and the UNIX/Berkeley licensing agreements. I think that TECHNICALLY I might have violated the LETTER of the agreement. However, the same technicality could be applied to the patches sent on the net. After due consideration, I decided to publish the code. Note that I also have a highly debugged and cleaned up version of the LPD daemon that I distribute, but ONLY if I get copies of your source licenses (ATT & Berkeley). There is a very fine dividing line. Patrick Powell, VLSI Research Group