[Help-smalltalk] Re: license issue(s)

[Paolo Bonzini]

> My question is: Is it ok to deploy applications (on an internal
> company network) using GNU Smalltalk without GPLing the source?
>
> What about the foreign function interface? Isn't that part of the VM?

I have reached consensus with Richard Stallman that:

1) any C code for the library bindings must be released under the GPL. 
Of course this only matters when the library needs some special glue 
code to be used with GNU Smalltalk, as in the GTK+ case.

2) on the other hand, one can add this wording to the bindings' 
licensing terms to avoid violating the GPL or hitting grey areas:

   Linking XYZ statically or dynamically with other modules is
   making a combined work based on XYZ.  Thus, the terms and
   conditions of the GNU General Public License cover the whole
   combination.

   In addition, as a special exception, the Free Software Foundation
   give you permission to combine XYZ with free software
   programs or libraries that are released under the GNU LGPL and with
   independent programs running under the GNU Smalltalk virtual machine.

   You may copy and distribute such a system following the terms of the
   GNU GPL for XYZ and the licenses of the other code
   concerned, provided that you include the source code of that other
   code when and as the GNU GPL requires distribution of source code.

   Note that people who make modified versions of XYZ are not
   obligated to grant this special exception for their modified
   versions; it is their choice whether to do so.  The GNU General
   Public License gives permission to release a modified version without
   this exception; this exception also makes it possible to release a
   modified version which carries forward this exception.

3) the good news is, rms agreed to put the exception on the bindings 
provided with GNU Smalltalk.  Since some of these bindings may live 
within the virtual machine, the above exception will be placed in the 
virtual machine too.

Version 2.3 of GNU Smalltalk will include the exception.

Paolo