Re: Debian readline/libedit breakage

On Wed, Feb 16 2011, Tom Lane wrote:

> Stephen Frost <sfrost@snowman.net> writes:
>> * Tom Lane (tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us) wrote:
>>> In particular, getting rid of use of OpenSSL would not be sufficient
>>> to satisfy the most rabid GPL partisans that we were in compliance.
>
>> I've never heard anyone argue that position, don't believe anyone would,
>> and certainly don't agree with it.
>
> [ shrug ... ]  Check the Postgres archives, from back around 2000 if
> memory serves.
>
>             regards, tom lane

Or he could just read this essay from the FSF website:

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-not-lgpl.html

It basically tries to persuade developers to create GPLed libraries in
cases where the library provides services that are not available in
proprietary libraries.  The idea is to *force* developers to use the GPL
if they want to use the library.

Here's a relevant quote that actually uses readline as an example:
       However, when a library provides a significant unique       capability, like GNU Readline, that's a horse of a
different      color.  The Readline library implements input editing and       history for interactive programs, and
that'sa facility not       generally available elsewhere.  Releasing it under the GPL and       limiting its use to
freeprograms gives our community a real       boost.  At least one application program is free software today
specificallybecause that was necessary for using Readline.
 
       If we amass a collection of powerful GPL-covered libraries that       have no parallel available to proprietary
software,they will       provide a range of useful modules to serve as building blocks in       new free programs.
Thiswill be a significant advantage for       further free software development, and some projects will decide       to
makesoftware free in order to use these libraries.       University projects can easily be influenced; nowadays, as
 companies begin to consider making software free, even some       commercial projects can be influenced in this way.
 

IANAL, but it is hard to recommend relying on a reading of the GPL that
is inconsistent with the folks that wrote the license.

Jason