Re: Becoming a developer
Kenneth Scharf wrote: From what I read on this subject, I thought that most of the flame war was on KDE, and that it might be possible to include KDE IF, they made certain specific releases in their license. Since I thought that RMS had appoved the newer QT license as a free license (does KDE yet use Qt2, which is the new QT license?), that this problem was going away. I admit I am NOT a legal expect on this kind of stuff. Is there a way to search the archives on debian-legal for QT? Maybe some of my questions will have answers there (If one can wade through the flames). Is there a way (via license modification disclaimers) that a program written using QT can be GPL'ed at all? Finally I note that debian DOES have the QTLib in the distro, will this remain (allowing users to at least use such programs via source)? This is what I have understood so far, but cannot guarentee corectness: The free QT liscence with QT2 is a fully valid open source liscence. It is completely compatible with DFSG. Linking to it with pure GPL code is not allowed however ( a deficiency with the GPL not the QT liscence) You could however slightly modify your liscence to allow QT2. There are many other DFSG free liscences out there that allow QT2, you could use one of these instead of GPL. I don't know if I would attempt to re-write QSSTV to replace the QT calls with GTK calls, but that would be a last ditch idea. It truly would, QT is FAR superior to GTK!! Cheers, John
Re: Becoming a developer
On Wed, Mar 15, 2000 at 11:32:42AM +, John Travers wrote: This is what I have understood so far, but cannot guarentee corectness: The free QT liscence with QT2 is a fully valid open source liscence. It is completely compatible with DFSG. Linking to it with pure GPL code is not allowed however ( a deficiency with the GPL not the QT liscence) wrong, it's a deficiency with the Qt license. the clause in the GPL which it conflicts with is there quite deliberately - its purpose is to prevent GPL-ed code being stolen through sneaky maneuvers with shared libraries. You could however slightly modify your liscence to allow QT2. correct. the copyright owner(s) can license their software however they like - they can give an explicit permission to link their GPL-ed code with Qt. There are many other DFSG free liscences out there that allow QT2, you could use one of these instead of GPL. the trouble with that is that the GPL offers the best protection (for developers and users) of all the free software licenses. IMO it is a mistake to encourage the use of other licenses. I don't know if I would attempt to re-write QSSTV to replace the QT calls with GTK calls, but that would be a last ditch idea. It truly would, QT is FAR superior to GTK!! if you only want to work in C++, and if you don't care that it's incompatible with the GPL. craig -- craig sanders
Re: Becoming a developer
On Tue, Mar 14, 2000 at 10:08:34AM -0800, Kenneth Scharf wrote: Has the process for admiting new debian developers gone on line yet? There is a ham radio program that I would like to see as a debian package. As I am not currently a developer, pehaps someone else might like to look into packaging this. Otherwise, I will do it, if I can run your ganlet and join your ranks. The program is QSSTV (the ONLY slow scan TV program that I know of that works on Linux.) As the name implies, it is based on QT. It now (version 3.0m) works with both qt1.44 and 2.0.2. It is also GPL'ed. Hope it can go in main, or at least contrib. The URL is http://ourworld.compuserve/homepages/on1mh/qsstv As most people will note, you don't have to become a developer to package things. You can attempt to find a sponsor that will validate and upload your packages for you. I suggest emailing debian-mentor to see if any other HAM people would be willing to take you under their wing. -- ---===-=-==-=---==-=-- / Ben Collins -- ...on that fantastic voyage... -- Debian GNU/Linux \ ` [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] ' `---=--===-=-=-=-===-==---=--=---'
Re: Becoming a developer
Kenneth Scharf wrote: The program is QSSTV (the ONLY slow scan TV program that I know of that works on Linux.) As the name implies, it is based on QT. It now (version 3.0m) works with both qt1.44 and 2.0.2. It is also GPL'ed. Hope it can go in main, or at least contrib. The URL is http://ourworld.compuserve/homepages/on1mh/qsstv No, it is QPLed, not GPLed. This is important because if it was GPLed it wouldn't be distributable. From qsstv.cpp: As this program is based on the Qt Free Edition, it is released under Q Public Licence. Read this licence carefully before using, distributing or modifying this program. Included with this distribution is the QPL licence, a copy is also available at www.troll.no -- Brian Kimball
Re: Becoming a developer
From what I read on this subject, I thought that most of the flame war was on KDE, and that it might be possible to include KDE IF, they made certain specific releases in their license. Since I thought that RMS had appoved the newer QT license as a free license (does KDE yet use Qt2, which is the new QT license?), that this problem was going away. I admit I am NOT a legal expect on this kind of stuff. Is there a way to search the archives on debian-legal for QT? Maybe some of my questions will have answers there (If one can wade through the flames). Is there a way (via license modification disclaimers) that a program written using QT can be GPL'ed at all? Finally I note that debian DOES have the QTLib in the distro, will this remain (allowing users to at least use such programs via source)? I don't know if I would attempt to re-write QSSTV to replace the QT calls with GTK calls, but that would be a last ditch idea. Wonder if a tool kit for doing such an insane thing exists? Anyway I didn't intend to prase or bury the QT, only to get a new ham radio application into debian, somehow. --- Alisdair McDiarmid [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Tue, Mar 14, 2000 at 10:08:34AM -0800, Kenneth Scharf wrote: The program is QSSTV (the ONLY slow scan TV program that I know of that works on Linux.) As the name implies, it is based on QT. It now (version 3.0m) works with both qt1.44 and 2.0.2. It is also GPL'ed. Hope it can go in main, or at least contrib. I'm sure you'll get a lot of mail about this, but it won't go into Debian at all. The GPL is incompatible with the QPL, therefore distributing QSSTV is technically illegal. See the archives of debian-legal and debian-devel for much flameage on this issue. Regards, -- Alisdair McDiarmid [EMAIL PROTECTED] [ http://wasters.org/] = Amateur Radio, when all else fails! http://www.qsl.net/wa2mze Debian Gnu Linux, Live Free or . __ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com
Re: Becoming a developer
On Tue, Mar 14, 2000 at 01:23:58PM -0500, Ben Collins wrote: There is a ham radio program that I would like to see as a debian package. As I am not currently a developer, pehaps someone else might like to look into packaging this. Otherwise, I will do it, if I can run your ganlet and join your ranks. As most people will note, you don't have to become a developer to package things. You can attempt to find a sponsor that will validate and upload your packages for you. I suggest emailing debian-mentor to see if any ~~ The address is [EMAIL PROTECTED] just to make sure nobody sends mails to void :) other HAM people would be willing to take you under their wing. -- enJoy -*/\*- don't even try to pronounce my first name
Re: Becoming a developer
On Tue, Mar 14, 2000 at 10:31:58AM -0800, Kenneth Scharf wrote: (does KDE yet use Qt2, which is the new QT license?), No, it doesn't in 1.x. KDE 2.x will be linked against QT2. Is there a way to search the archives on debian-legal for QT? Maybe some of my questions will have answers I think there is a search function for the mailling list archive on va.debian.org, isn't there? there (If one can wade through the flames). Is there a way (via license modification disclaimers) that a program written using QT can be GPL'ed at all? Yes, there is. Look at apt. It's GPL, but other programs using QT (like the Corel(R) Package Manager) may be linked against it. You've to include a paragraph that says that this is allowed. Finally I note that debian DOES have the QTLib in the distro, will this remain (allowing users to at least use such programs via source)? Why not? If I understood it right, KDE isn't included because of an invalid license (GPL-programs linked against QT). QT has a valid license. There are a lot of other non-free packages in Debian, too. For which reason should qt not be included? Greetings, Roland -- Roland Bauerschmidt -- Freiberger Str. 17, 28215 Bremen, Germany e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED], phone: +49 421 3763482, fax: +49 421 3763483 Debian GNU / Linux -- the choice of a GNU generation
