Re: [ng-spice] new guy: licensing issues
My two cents:
the not-yet-named circuit simulator will be higly modular in it's
structure. While is not possible to link GPL covered code with non-GPL
one, is still possible to link via an .so a part of the code that is not
necessary to for the GPL code to work. I mean, if we proved a modular
structure for postprocessor and front end, one can write two non gpl
covered program to interface the simulator with his own program. The
simulator does not rely on these "plugins" to work. It' s a sort of
"kernel module".
> It is also somewhat cleaner since a single binary can be shipped to the
> customer.
In our design, the simulator behaves like a library, with some internal
structures, etc. but the front end is a separate program that use the
"simulator" capabilities. So it may be good for you.
>
> > One solution would be to make a modular
> > design (which we plan to do) so that the binary is minimal for you.
> This would be very helpful in running a separate binary.
...as manu said.
> > Licensing ng-spice under LGPL rather than GPL would solve that problem of
> > course.
>
> This is one of the options that we were hoping for. However, we realize
>that
> this project is under the gEDA umbrella which is meant to be a suite of GPL
> tools.
Yes.
> Am I right in my understanding that you are using the standard BSD
> license currently and moving to a GPL license on the new, unnamed simulator?
That's correct. We are now studying how spice works to gain knowledge for
the new simulator.
> Since the rewritten simulator is still quite a ways off, the current
> development tree of ng-spice-rework is only of interest at this point. If
>the
> BSD license stays on this, then there is no issue anyway. We would still be
> wiling to make code contributions if they overlap with your own efforts.
I think that each one of us should express his/her point of view here.
> I think you're right: using a GPL library would force ng-spice to be GPL as
> well. Are there plans to incorporate GSL into the current development tree
>as
> well as the new simulator?
No, because the current development tree is not GPL. The new code (well
the only part of it that exists) is based on GSL.
> BTW, I am on the devel mailing list as well if this discussion would be
>better
> suited to that audience.?.
Well it's about ng-spice development so it is the right place.
Waiting for your opinion,
Paolo
Partial thread listing:
- Re: [ng-spice] new guy: licensing issues, (continued)
Letter to Berkely CAD Group
Paolo Nenzi