David Woodhouse <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] said: > > We've looked and RedBoot isn't a bad fit but it isn't an especially > > good fit either. > > > First it already compiles as an ELF image and detects the memory size > > under LinuxBIOS just fine. And the size seems to be in a reasonable > > neighborhood. > > > Second the license makes code sharing extremely awkward. And as it's > > drivers and infrastructure aren't good enough to just work, an awkward > > licesne is a significant hurdle. > > http://sources.redhat.com/ml/ecos-discuss/2002-05/msg00191.html > > A key thing to make people aware of is that the licence for eCos > is changing. We stated before that we wanted to make eCos v2.0 > GPL compatible and that's what we have done.
>From the eCos discussion. Jonathan Larmour <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Q. But I don't want to release my code! / I'm legally prevented from > releasing my code! > > A. Red Hat realises that some people may not want to release their code to > changes they make, or even make available eCos code with their binary. This > could be due to commercial sensitivity reasons, confidentiality agreements, > NDAs etc. > > In this case, Red Hat can provide an "eCos Commercial Licence" for your > product that will allow you to release your product based on eCos > unencumbered by the GPL restrictions. Which seems to go into the whole copyright assignment issue. Getting someone to agree to the GPL or a similiar license. But then assigning the copyright to redhat so redhat can sell people the ability to use the code however they want is another. The GPL was choosen for LinuxBIOS primarily because it keeps everyone on a level playing field. The current redboot situtation does not keep everyone on a level playing field as redhat is more equal than everyone else. Additionally to get keep RedBoot useful would require a non-trivial amount of work. And to keep it useful would as well as new hardware is constantly coming out. So my choices would be contribute the code back to redhat, or to fork RedBoot. RedBoot doesn't impress me enough to fork it, and I don't like relationships where the other guy is more equal than me. Feel free to explain where I have gotten the situation wrong. Eric
