[comp.lang.misc] GNU runtime libraries.

karl@umb.umb.edu (Karl Berry.) (08/09/89)

How many times must it be said?

The only ``runtime library'' currently being distributed
is gnulib (and gnulib2), which are arithmetic (and other
similar low-level operations) for gcc.  gnulib and gnulib2
are not copylefted, because the routines are so small, there
is no question of code derivation.  (Anyway, it doesn't
really matter what the reason is; they're not copylefted.)

When the standard C runtime library is released, it
will most likely be copylefted, and programs linked
with that will be considered GNU-derived, and so will
be subject to the copyleft.  But it is not released now,
so most of this discussion is strictly hypothetical.

Perhaps the copyleft is legal; perhaps it isn't.  If you
are concerned about its legality, you should consult a lawyer,
not the net.  If you think copylefting software is wrong,
that's your prerogative, but there is no need to state your
opinion again; it has been expressed many times in the last
few weeks.

karl@umb.edu   ...!harvard!umb!karl

mart@ele.tue.nl (Mart van Stiphout) (08/09/89)

In article <878@umb.umb.edu> karl@umb.umb.edu (Karl Berry.) writes:
>When the standard C runtime library is released, it

Does this mean that gcc uses a vendor supplied C library ????
Mart van Stiphout.

lee@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu (Greg Lee) (08/10/89)

From article <103@euteal.ele.tue.nl>, by mart@ele.tue.nl (Mart van Stiphout):
" 
" Does this mean that gcc uses a vendor supplied C library ????

Yes.  At least, the last version of gnulib I looked at consisted
of new names associated with calls to functions in a real
library.  It would have taken some nerve to copyleft this, wouldn't
it?
			Greg, lee@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu

cjeffery@arizona.edu (Clinton Jeffery) (08/11/89)

From article <878@umb.umb.edu>, by karl@umb.umb.edu (Karl Berry.):
> ...When the standard C runtime library is released, it will most likely be
> copylefted, and programs linked with that will be considered GNU-derived,
> and so will be subject to the copyleft...If you think copylefting software
> is wrong, that's your prerogative, but there is no need to state your
> opinion again; it has been expressed many times in the last few weeks.

Oh, I don't know, the volume of confused, angry postings from people
is probably one more useful measure of GNU's policies.
Redundancy is useful.  And copylefting all works linked with the GNU
runtime library is like copylefting all files edited with GNUemacs.
It makes the tool unusable by the general public, and usable only by FSF.
P.S. I love the GNU project too...
-- 
| Clint Jeffery, U. of Arizona Dept. of Computer Science
| cjeffery@arizona.edu -or- {noao allegra}!arizona!cjeffery
--