One think to clarify is the meaning of linking. Normally (in compiled languages) when you link a library the compiled code of the library becomes part of the executable. In the case of Python and interpreted languages you have import, which is not the same as linking. It is equivalent to linking IF and only IF, the py or the pyc files of the imported module are distributed with the compiled app (case 1). It is not linking if the py or pyc modules are not distributed together (case 2). In case 2 the GPL does not apply. Case 1 is not allowed by the GPL and that is why have the commercial exception.
There are three cases: 1) you distribute your app open or closed source with web2py source (allowed by GPL) 2) you distribute your app open or closed source with web2py binary (not allowed by GPL but allowed by the web2py commercial exception which treats the web2py binaries not as GPL but as freeware) 3) you distribute your app closed source with part of web2py or with a modified version of web2py (this is not allowed by the current license but it would be allowed if the license was MIT/BSD or LGPL). I do not know of any "standard" license that allows 1,2 but not 3. Massimo On Dec 12, 10:01 pm, Branko Vukelic <bg.bra...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 4:53 AM, LightDot <light...@gmail.com> wrote: > > and all), but I've never seen it or done it. > > Which is also the point of MIT. And exactly why massimo insists on > GPL, which forbids this. > > > So if the end result is the same (one can freely produce open or closed > > source applications, modules, etc.), i'm all for the GPLv2 license. It is > > clearly better for the community. > > There's a difference between GPLv2 and Massimo. Massimo specifically > allows creating closed-source software that runs on web2py despite the > possibility that GPL itself may not necessarily allow this. Regardless > of the conclusion of this GPL agenda, the bottom line is you are free > to create closed-source web2py apps (as long as you don't publish > binary-only web2py modifications, that is). ;) > > -- > Branko Vukelić > > bg.bra...@gmail.com > stu...@brankovukelic.com > > Check out my blog:http://www.brankovukelic.com/ > Check out my portfolio:http://www.flickr.com/photos/foxbunny/ > Registered Linux user #438078 (http://counter.li.org/) > I hang out on identi.ca:http://identi.ca/foxbunny > > Gimp Brushmakers Guildhttp://bit.ly/gbg-group
