xgettext (Re: replication of stuff in /usr/gnu)

[Garrett D'Amore]

Nicolas Williams wrote:
> On Fri, Jul 13, 2007 at 11:28:57AM -0700, Garrett D'Amore wrote:
>   
>> This whole debate underscores for me a point that I think is often 
>> overlooked.
>>
>> I think it is very important to ensure that it remain possible to build 
>> a distro that is basically operation, but remains entirely free of GPL 
>> licensed code.   (Otherwise why bother with CDDL at all?  Just go GPLv2 
>> or v3 everywhere...  yech.)
>>     
>
> If that's true why do we have a way to build with GCC?  Why do the *BSDs
> use GCC for building?
>
> What's important is to be able to build the system so it remains
> unencumbered by the build tools' licenses.
>   

Yes.  I don't care about the licenses on the tools used to build it... 
only on the resulting binaries.

> The use of xgettext to extract strings for localization does not
> encumber the core OS.
>   

Yes I would agree with that.  The gettext(1) binary (not xgettext) 
however _is_ a core component.

Anyway, my point here wasn't against xgettext specifically, but only to 
point out that I request that folks keep this in mind when considering  
components that might be part of the core.

And in retrospect, I think this point might have slipped by when 
considering ethereal/wireshark as a snoop replacement.  At least with 
snoop, we aren't *necessarily* burdened by GPL.



>   
>> I'd really really like it to remain this way.
>>     
>
> The ARC gets its chance to look at this question.
>   

Of course.

>   
>> It makes it far easier to do things like build embedded appliances with 
>> some CDDL code and some proprietary code, etc.
>>     
>
> The need for GPL'ed build tools does not negatively impact anyone who
> wants to build an embeddable version of Solaris -- the GPL affects
> re-distribution of derivatives of those tools, which a embedder need not
> do.
>   

Yes, I agree in this case.  However, I do still want that issue to 
remain in the backs of minds who are naively (perhaps) thinking that 
"GNU component X is a superset of Solaris component Y... we should just 
ditch the Solaris version and use the GNU version."

    -- Garrett