Re: [libredwg] Libredwg Rebirth

[R. van Twisk]

@All,

to be clear,

the license of LibreCAD V2.x.x is GPLv2 and this will never change.

LibreCAD 3.x.x will be based on separate libraries we develop and all core work will be done using MIT or BSD.

The GUI (icons, menu) of LibreCAD 3.x.x might be GPLv2 based.

According to our understanding it’s allowed for GPLv2 licensed application’s to use MIT and/or BSD code as long as it’s dynamically loaded.

If you feel we are entering a danger zone, please let us know! We are trying to be good citizen and trying to help people that love open source to use their DWG/DXF files.

Ries van Twisk

On Dec 5, 2014, at 5:33 AM, gagan <address@hidden> wrote:

GNU LibreDWG has a license of GPLv3 and most opensource CAD software available were having licenses which were not compatible with GPLv3. LibreCAD was a quite old software and needed architectural changes and mostly a rewrite.

LibreCAD has a newer version which is in very beginning stage of the development.
It has its own libraries having a MIT/BSD license but to remove the licensing issues, the LibreCAD 3 itself is under GPLv3 or higher license.

We have experimental code[0] that uses GNU LibreDWG for reading DWG file formats.

And a snapshot[1] of example file read by LibreCAD provided with GNU LibreDWG. The support of read is limeted to lines yet since it is under testing.

[0] https://github.com/LibreCAD/LibreCAD_3/tree/DXFsupp
[1] https://codebasement.wordpress.com/2014/12/04/lcio/

I think we can actually say this is rebirth for LibreDWG and LibreCAD.

Now all we need is contributors that would again like to work on GNU LibreDWG which is a high priority requirement by Free Softwares.

Here are the licenses used overall,

License of LibreCAD will be GPLv3 or later
License of LibDXFrw is LGPLv2+
License of LibreDWG is GPLv3
Expected License of LCkernel is MIT/BSD
Expected License of LCviewer is MIT/BSD

Going through licenses, I don't see any conflict. Opinions/Suggestions welcomed for everything related to subject.

--
Thanks
Gaganjyot
Maintainer GNU Dr. Geo
Core Developer LibreCAD ( GSoC 2014 )
Developer GNU LibreDWG ( GSoC 2013 )
"Jai Sai Naath"