>
> My question is whether psql using libreadline.so has to be GPL, meaning
> the psql source has to be included in a binary distribution.
If I understand what I have been told by lawyers, here's what using a GPL,
and NOT LGPL, library means:
According to RMS, the definition of a derivitive work is one which shares
the same address space when running. The in-memory process separation also
separates works. One may argue this definition, but it is in supporting
documents to the GPL and likely to be considered as the intention of the
GPL in a court of law.
There is no requirement of shipping source with a binary. One must "make
available" the source. This can be done by a web site or alternate CD
distribution. It need not be free, as in beer, but must be free of any
restrictions beyond those of the GPL.
There is no requirement that one would need to make the source of the 3rd
party GPL library available, as it is available from the original source
from whence it was obtained in the first place. Any changes, however,
made, by you, to that library must be made available. (If you do not make
modifications to libreadline, you don't even need to worry about it.)