Wow. I'm sorry but you are wrong. First off the C# compiler does compile down to IL (byte code) and yes Mono's C# compiler is released under the GPL, however it doesn't really matter if a compiler is GPL or not. Creations created using a piece of GPLed software are not suddenly subjected to the terms of the GPL as well. Like if I created an image with GIMP, it not like that image is GPL as well then. That's why you can use GCC and compile all the proprietary code you want.
It also wouldn't really matter if the JIT caused your code to be linked to the runtime at runtime or not. Consider WINE. It's completely GPL but running Windows apps on it doesn't suddenly make that code in the Windows app GPL or make you in violation of the GPL. However, if you were planning on distributing wine and the windows app together in a single package, then you might have a problem. The fact is that Mono's runtime is LGPL so it is possible to distribute mono with your application without giving out your source code to your own stuff. The class libraries are also released under MIT/X11. This is because the LGPL doesn't really make it nice for languages that make use of in-lining or with the security and signing requirements imposed by CLI on assemblies (as well as some of the technically vague areas around inheritance and stuff in LGPL). Now with C++ its almost impossible to use LGPL correctly, and it's partly why GNU's classpath libraries are released under GPL with linking exception (instead of LGPL). LGPL requires that the LGPL libraries you link as part of your app be able to be recompiled and replaced in place if the user wants to. This should be possible in CLI without to many problem most of the time (unlike C++ where that can cause a ton of technical issues if you tried that), but there are a few places where you still have trouble like that in CLI with signed assemblies and some other vague parts of the LGPL concerning inheritance and the like. LGPL is really best designed for C libraries more then anything. However if you look at the way the runtime speaks to the corelib, the way it links is over the interal p/invoke like call, it should be completely possible to change out and recompile just the runtime alone if you got a binary version of the core libraries (if anyone distributed you something like that). LGPL is perfect for that part. Pretty much Mono is extremely flexible and in almost every case you have nothing to worry about, except if you want to package our C# compiler with your app. Zac On Fri, 2006-04-28 at 16:41 -0600, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I understand, you need the compiler though since mono uses a JIT (just in > time compiler), which means that it doesn't actually compile to bit code > until just before it runs (before that it compiles to and intermediate > language which is abbreviated to IL).Once again, I'm not a lawyer but as > long as you make sure to mention where a user can get the mono source and > you should be in compliance with the GPL. > -Matt McDonald > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jonathan S. Chambers [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 2:49 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; GaoXianchao; rolandpish > Cc: mono-list@lists.ximian.com > Subject: RE: [Mono-list] What is the correct way to install > onlytheMonoRuntime on a Windows PC? > > FYI, only compiler and tools are GPL: > http://www.mono-project.com/FAQ:_Licensing > > My little app doesn't need the compiler (as well as some other > components). So, I'm trying to save some size and avoid redistributing > anything GPL since I don't necessarily completely understand it :-). > > Thanks, > Jonathan > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 4:01 PM > > To: Jonathan S. Chambers; 'GaoXianchao'; 'rolandpish' > > Cc: mono-list@lists.ximian.com > > Subject: RE: [Mono-list] What is the correct way to install > > onlytheMonoRuntime on a Windows PC? > > > > As an afterthought, I should also point out that the mono libraries > are > > probably mostly licensed as GPL as well. > > -Matt McDonald > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Jonathan S. Chambers [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 8:31 AM > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; GaoXianchao; rolandpish > > Cc: mono-list@lists.ximian.com > > Subject: RE: [Mono-list] What is the correct way to install > > onlytheMonoRuntime on a Windows PC? > > > > Even if .Net redistributable contains a compiler, my question for > > redistributing mono on windows is about licensing. If I redistribute > > mono on windows using the current installer (which in includes the > > compilers), wouldn't that invoke the GPL (since the mono compilers are > > GPL)? > > > > Thanks, > > Jonathan > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:mono-list- > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 2:40 AM > > > To: 'GaoXianchao'; 'rolandpish' > > > Cc: mono-list@lists.ximian.com > > > Subject: RE: [Mono-list] What is the correct way to install > > > onlytheMonoRuntime on a Windows PC? > > > > > > Download the Windows installer from the downloads section of the > mono > > > website (http://www.mono-project.com/Downloads). You probably want > the > > > "Mono > > > for Windows, Gtk# and XSP" link. > > > > > > Both .NET and Mono include a compiler since it's necessary for a > > working > > > setup. > > > -Matt McDonald > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of GaoXianchao > > > Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 8:16 PM > > > To: rolandpish > > > Cc: mono-list@lists.ximian.com > > > Subject: Re: [Mono-list] What is the correct way to install only > > > theMonoRuntime on a Windows PC? > > > > > > I have the same question. > > > > > > > > > 2006/4/28, rolandpish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > > > > > > Hi everyone. > > > > I want to install the Mono runtime on a Windows XP machine. > > > > I don't want to install compilers, gui designers, etc..., only > > runtime. > > > > Is there a way to do this? > > > > What is the correct procedure? > > > > > > > > Thanks for your help > > > > Regards > > > > -- > > > > View this message in context: > > > http://www.nabble.com/What-is-the-correct-way-to-install-only-the- > > > MonoRuntim > > > e-on-a-Windows-PC--t1520427.html#a4128416 > > > > Sent from the Mono - General forum at Nabble.com. > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Mono-list maillist - Mono-list@lists.ximian.com > > > > http://lists.ximian.com/mailman/listinfo/mono-list > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Mono-list maillist - Mono-list@lists.ximian.com > > > http://lists.ximian.com/mailman/listinfo/mono-list > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mono-list maillist - Mono-list@lists.ximian.com > http://lists.ximian.com/mailman/listinfo/mono-list > _______________________________________________ Mono-list maillist - Mono-list@lists.ximian.com http://lists.ximian.com/mailman/listinfo/mono-list