Re: new win32 port of GTK http://introspector.sourceforge.net/dia_win32.htm

[Charles Schmidt <cschmidt2 emich edu>]

-

I've been following this for a bit, and thought I would add my two 
cents, so to speak.

James Michael DuPont wrote:

[...]

> See section 3 of the GPL : 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> "The source code for a work means the preferred form of the work for
> making modifications to it. For an executable work, complete source
> code means all the source code for all modules it contains, plus any
> associated interface definition files, plus the scripts used to control
> compilation and installation of the executable. However, as a special
> exception, the source code distributed need not include anything that
> is normally distributed (in either source or binary form) with the
> major components (compiler, kernel, and so on) of the operating system
> on which the executable runs, unless that component itself accompanies
> the executable. "
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "is normally distributed (in either source or binary form) with the
> major components (compiler, kernel, and so on) of the operating system"
>
> libiconv, gettext, glib and gtk are distributed with debian and are
> easy to compile. The sources are effectivly in the same place.
>
> Under windows it is a nightmare!
> The port to windows needs all of that this is very clearly covered by
> the GPL.

Yes. I'm sure it is a nightmare.  However, I don't read the GPL has 
requiring distribution of those libraries.  The GPL says the source code 
needs to contain:  the source, interface definition files and Makefiles 
(or the like).  It says nothing about external libraries.  The GPL goes 
on to say that the source code does not need to distribute anything that 
is not common on the operating system.   I understand this to say that 
it does not need to distribute/include anything that relates to or is 
requried by the [source, interface definition files or Makefiles].  No 
where in the list of things to distribute does the GPL say that 
libraries the program links to, or other programs the program may depend 
on need to be distributed at the same place as the source code.

Therefore, www.gtk.org provides the sources and win32 binaries.  What is 
the problem?  Furthermore, if you look at 
ftp://ftp.gtk.org/pub/gtk/v2.2/dependencies  (or v2.0/dependencies or 
what have you) You see liibjpeg, libpng and libtiff! Goodness!  Its not 
as if these additional libaries are difficult to track down or anything. 
 The Gtk+ team goes above and beyond by providing the source to these 
libraries.  Many other GPL projects merely provide a link to the website 
of the library, and require the user to navigate and track down the source.

[...]

> So, I think that my criticism of the practices at the time in july were
> valid and fair. Since then I have taken steps to fix the problem and
> present a set of sources that are in full compliance with the gpl. 
>
> Please do give my effort at least a reference from your GTK+ page, 
> many people do not know about this work,and would benefit from it.

Honestly, I don't think people would benefit from it terribly.  You're 
merely providing yet another build of the source.  You may be following 
a different interpretation of the GPL, and may have a different build 
system, but the fact remains that it is merely another build for the 
win32 platform.  I see no reason to replace or even coexist with Tor & 
Hans' work, which is sanctioned by the Gtk+ already.  Why give people, 
especially Windows users, the kind of confusion that will stem from two 
differing versions of Gtk+ for Windows?  If you have fault with the Gtk+ 
win32 team, why not attemp to work with them, rather than breaking away 
like this?

> thanks, 
> mike
>
>
> =====
> James Michael DuPont
> http://introspector.sourceforge.net/

Just my unsollicited thoughts on the subject.  I am in no way part of 
the Gtk+ team or development, merely an interested developer of Gtk+ 
applications.

-charlie