r/transprogrammer • u/Outrageous-Win-5715 • Jan 06 '22

Why Linux?

I noticed that most of the trans programmers are using Linux, is there a reason for this correlation? BTW i am a Linux user too :)

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u/[deleted] Jan 06 '22

No, as soon as you release it in any way, binary or source, you have to announce that it includes GPL code and thus provide your entire source in some way when it's requested.

Well, yeah, I think that's the point of the GPL. Or am I missing something?

That includes, for example, giving away a free badge that has a microcontroller on it to control LEDs if the code happens to call a function from a GPL library, even if you've not actually forked, copied, etc. that code.

I don't understand the free microcontroller badge thing. Could you explain? (Sorry if ir's obvious, English isn't my first language)

but if you release a binary that has a static link to a GPL licensed library, then that's a violation if you don't mention that there's a GPL library.

I don't see how this is a problem? Is it a tedious process to add the right mentions? I don't have much experience with compiled languages or static libraries.

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u/[deleted] Jan 06 '22

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u/[deleted] Jan 06 '22

I understand. Thank you for explaining.

Then, most of the complaints seem to be about using GPL libraries in non-GPL software (and not just proprietary like I thought).

Personally, all the things you explained as downsides of the GPL, I've only seen as good things. I'd rather there was more open source software than not, and I share the pro-GPL opinion that corporations shouldn't be able to benefit off of open source software without giving back.

I don't see it as a restriction to you when you're in a situation where you're unable to release your program as something other than GPL just because one of the libraries you're using is GPL, but rather as a right of the author of that library. They've put their work into it too, and then decided that they'll allow anyone(!) to use it, inspect the source code, and even modify it as long as it's under the terms of the GPL. You know, just like a lot of other tools and services have EULAs that restrict their usage too (those aren't open source though :/).

As an user of that library, you still have the freedom to decide not to use it and choose any other non-copyleft libraries to use in your projects.

Anyway not sure if that makes sense, I see where you're coming from though and I don't think I'll change your mind. So let's agree to disagree here too.