undefined | Better HN

0 pointskrupan1y ago0 comments

Hi! Do you work for Microsoft? There is nothing "non-permissive" about the GPL. You can use the code however you want. "Viral" is a perjorative description that Microsoft pioneered the use of to describe the GPL. The GPL is not a virus that latches onto any code it gets near, without anyone's permission. You should not use that term.

0 comments

nu11ptr1y ago

> The GPL is not a virus that latches onto any code it gets near

Honestly, that is EXACTLY how I feel about it. If I use GPL code in my code then my code must also be GPL (if I distribute). The term seems to fit to me.

And no, I've never worked for MS.

krupanOP1y ago

Viruses are things that latch onto other things without their permission. If you choose to build off of GPL code then yes, you must preserve the GPL license. There's an important difference.

It's actually the same as any other copyrighted code (and in the US, all code is automatically copyrighted and restricted). You cannot just take code and use it in your project. GPL code is nothing special.

nu11ptr1y ago

It is very easy to accidently use a GPL library without knowing it, especially if it is a dependency of a dependency and you aren't using a license scanner.

kstrauser1y ago

It’s very easy to do all sorts of incorrect stuff if you totally ignore your responsibilities.

If you're not redistributing the GPL library, then it doesn't matter. If you are, then there are all sorts of other licenses which come with the same (or greater) headaches.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

nu11ptr1y ago

> The GPL is not a virus that latches onto any code it gets near

Honestly, that is EXACTLY how I feel about it. If I use GPL code in my code then my code must also be GPL (if I distribute). The term seems to fit to me.

And no, I've never worked for MS.

krupanOP1y ago

Viruses are things that latch onto other things without their permission. If you choose to build off of GPL code then yes, you must preserve the GPL license. There's an important difference.

nu11ptr1y ago

It is very easy to accidently use a GPL library without knowing it, especially if it is a dependency of a dependency and you aren't using a license scanner.

kstrauser1y ago

It’s very easy to do all sorts of incorrect stuff if you totally ignore your responsibilities.

If you're not redistributing the GPL library, then it doesn't matter. If you are, then there are all sorts of other licenses which come with the same (or greater) headaches.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse