From: "John M. Aldrich" Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp Subject: Re: Source code Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 21:05:52 +0000 Organization: Two pounds of chaos and a pinch of salt Lines: 33 Message-ID: <34944A30.A95@cs.com> References: Reply-To: fighteer AT cs DOT com NNTP-Posting-Host: ppp243.cs.com Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com DJ-Gateway: from newsgroup comp.os.msdos.djgpp Precedence: bulk Geza Herman wrote: > > I don't have a programming question but a (L)GPL question. > If I write a program, and I only use libraries and GCC, > should I sell the binaries with *source* code? My understanding of the GPL and LGPL is thus: the GPL applies only if you use source or object code that falls under the GPL in your own work. This would include, say, copying one of the functions from gcc's source code, or linking one of the object files from gcc into your program. The LGPL applies if you link your program with a library that falls under the LGPL, such as 'libgpp.a'. The act of linking with the library causes your program to fall under the LGPL. It is less restrictive than the GPL, but still requires you to distribute source and/or linkable object code along with your program. If you don't want to make your program fall under any part of the GPL or LGPL, all you have to do is use all of your own code, and refrain from linking with 'libgpp.a'. The code in 'libiostream.a' and 'libstdcxx.a' does not fall under the LGPL. For more information, see chapter 19 of the FAQ, which discusses this exact question. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- | John M. Aldrich | "Courage is the complement of fear. | | aka Fighteer I | A man who is fearless cannot be | | mailto:fighteer AT cs DOT com | courageous. (He is also a fool.)" | | http://www.cs.com/fighteer | - Lazarus Long | ---------------------------------------------------------------------