Hi all,
First I want to say I am a MySQL fan.
I think MySQL AB interpretation of GPL creates confusion too. Do they intend
to crete and keep alive this confusion ? What for?...
Let me show you something taken from "MySQL Reference Manual for version
4.0.2-alpha"
"You can use the MySQL software for free under the GPL:
.....
* When you distribute the MySQL source code bundled with other programs that
are not linked to or dependent on MySQL Server for their functionality even
if you sell the distribution commercially.
...."
Consider the following exaples:
PROGRAM1 EMBEDS_MySQL {
do things
.......
}
2)
PROGRAM2 {
CONECT_TO_MySQL
......
}
where:
CONNECT_TO_MySQL = querying MySQL using it's user interfaces.
EMBEDS_MySQL = linking to MySQL, depends on MySQL ... anything but
CONNECT_TO MYSQL.
I thing PROGRAM1 must be distributet under GPL but PROGRAM2 can be
distributed with any license.
I may be wrong but I think MySQL ab doesn't say clearly( at least in the
user's manual) what I just said above. More than that, reading the manual
creates me the impresion that I must distribute the PROGRAM2 under GPL( this
also is not explicitly said).
Of course, they can define MySQL as a "system" insted of defining it as a
"database engine". This way, doing anything with MySQL, even just
CONNECTING_TO_MYSQL, the result is a new system( MySQL+my PROGRAM2) that
should be released under GPL. This definitoin of MySQL would be just a joke
(define and give me the source codes of your system).
Why MySQL AB does not try to explicitly define what the words "dependent
on MySQL" mean? Do they want to create confusion? Again, what for?
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