Hacker News Reader

Comment by kvakvs | Hacker News Reader

GPL? That doesn't encourage too many uses of this code. Especially for commercial purposes.

Welcome to Hacker News.

There are some guidelines here: http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

In particular: Please avoid introducing classic flamewar topics unless you have something genuinely new to say about them.

Feel free to write your own version and release it under a more permissive license then.

While it seems ridiculous to complain about which FOSS license is being used, it's a legitimate observation since there are certain app stores that disallow GPL'd code entirely.

It'd be nice if the author was willing to change the license but it's not something one can reasonably demand.

It would also be nice (actually nicer) if those app stores would allow GPL code.

It's often the other way around, the GPL disallows distributing the software under the very restrictive terms of those app stores.

Sure, but it would be entirely possible for Appstores to make their terms less restrictive, I don't blame people for using licenses like the GPL which are designed to push people in that direction.

I don't think it's very likely app stores will change their terms in the direction of complying with the GPL.

I don't blame people using the GPL either (except possibly people that use it for libraries), nor people that publish apps on the various stores, I was just clarifying a point.

Or even less restrictive specifically for GPL apps...

That is basically the point of the GPL: to fight proprietary software ecosystems.

The moral point of RMS & GPL is that if an ecosystem (such as an appstore) disallows even a possibility for users being in full control of their hardware & software, then such a system is evil, morally repugnant and should change their ways or be shunned by everyone - that 'peaceful coexistance' with them hurts society and should not happen.

YMMV.

Nothing's stopping you (or a potential commercial user) from negotiating a commercial, non-GPL license, you know.

Normally i contact the authors of GPL code and ask them nicely to move to LGPL. It has been working so far.

It uses NTL, and NTL is GPL, so the choice is forced.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com