Questions tagged [linking]
The linking tag has no usage guidance.
30
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4
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3
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Am I allowed to link code licensed under GPL to proprietary libraries?
I believe it is fairly well understood that you cannot link proprietary code to code licensed under the GPL because you're creating a derivative work and have to license it all under the GPL. ...
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2
votes
0
answers
35
views
What are the proper terms for those types of software combinations?
I am writing a python app and I am using external open source dependencies in 2 different ways:
A) standard import
B) calling an executable as a subprocess
What is the proper language to refer to such ...
- 21
3
votes
2
answers
454
views
Am I allowed to statically link a LGPL-2.1+ library into a GPL3-licensed library?
I'm writing a dynamic library that's licensed under GPL 3.0. To simplify distribution, I'd like to statically link as many of the library's dependencies as possible. One of these libraries is licensed ...
- 253
6
votes
3
answers
722
views
GPL and Linking Exceptions
I'm trying to decide on a license for some code I'm going to be open-sourcing shortly, and having a hard time choosing among the major licenses (as less common licenses are things people are not as ...
- 93
3
votes
1
answer
490
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Clarification on Proprietary software and linking LGPL libraries
I have an question about my understanding of Linking Proprietary software to LGPL libraries.
Based on my understanding, one can link his/her software to LGPL lib via:
Statically: Proprietary & ...
- 187
3
votes
1
answer
502
views
How does the OCaml LGPL Linking Exception differ from using a non-copyleft license?
The OCaml compiler and many other third-party OCaml libraries are licensed under the LGPL with a linking exception:
As a special exception to the GNU Lesser General Public License, you may link, ...
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12
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Is requiring a link to my site allowed for a FOSS license?
If I require a SEO link to my site (with that my software installed) from every installation of my software, does it make my license not FOSS? Can I use GPL components in so licensed software?
Can you ...
- 579
3
votes
1
answer
459
views
Consequences of html files being under GPL license
This is about consequences of html files being under GPL license (v2 or v3).
I am aware that it is not recommended to apply the GPL license to documentation. However, a typical use case is that a blog ...
- 183
2
votes
1
answer
79
views
Distributing GPL-Licensed JavaScript for Userscripts Safari
I have been building a GPL v3.0 licensed user script for use in browser extensions like Greasemonkey, Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey, etc. I would also like to state in the documentation that it can also ...
5
votes
1
answer
148
views
LGPL dual linking possible?
We are building an embedded system where performance and startup time is important and space is sparse so I had the idea to statically link to a LGPL licensed library AND - in case a .so of this lib ...
- 151
1
vote
1
answer
134
views
Using a GPL library in a separate module that's included with the main program
There's a GPL sound library I'd like to provide as an option in a game which will be released under MIT license. My plan is to create a generic, abstract audio interface in the engine, which can ...
- 113
2
votes
1
answer
155
views
Is it possible/necessary to add Classpath Exception to LGPL?
I see people comparing the GPL with a Classpath exception to the standard LGPL. Does this mean that LGPL already has the Classpath exception or some language already similar enough to it? If not, can ...
5
votes
1
answer
908
views
Can a non-GPL Licensed Python Application use Pylint as part of its test suite?
I have a Python application that is not under a GPL-compatible license.
I would like to add style checking to my automatic test suite, and I would like to use pylint instead of pep8 because it ...
- 151
0
votes
1
answer
286
views
Possibilities to use a GPL-v3 licensed library in a closed-source game
Licensing is absolutely not my topic and I'm currently trying to learn about it while developing my game. I'm trying to implement the espeak-ng library into my game, so I can use it to generate robot ...
-1
votes
1
answer
96
views
Can I start GPLed program within my code without making my program GPLed? [duplicate]
I have a program that I intended to release as MIT[0].
But I noticed that one of dependencies is GPLed. Fortunately I only use it via a system call to make final production step of graphics.
my code ...
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is LGPL OK for mostly header only library?
I'm writing a library which is a template-rich C++ library. All templated functions and classes are defined inside headers. It also has some non-templated functions, which are implemented inside ...
1
vote
1
answer
396
views
Linking GPL software with "indirection library" with both GPL-compatible and proprietary backends, in constrast with wrapper library
I'm about to publish a GPL3 piece of software I wrote. That software uses OpenCL, and in its normal use one typically links the software against the Khronos OpenCL ICD. The ICD lets the user then ...
- 135
8
votes
3
answers
761
views
Source-only distribution of MIT-licensed project which depends on GPL library
I'm trying to understand exactly when a work becomes a "derivative work," and how it affects licensing of my project. In my situation, we have a scientific code that we have written which is ...
- 183
5
votes
2
answers
406
views
Is it okay to combine a proprietary program with a GPL program after distribution?
I want to distribute a combined work containing program X, plugin P and plugin Q. Plugin P has a proprietary license (which allows redistribution) and plugin Q is distributed under the GPL. X has a ...
- 538
3
votes
1
answer
230
views
How to explicitly allow static linking EUPL licensed library from differently licensed code?
I am developing library and I want to license it under EUPL v1.2. EUPL is not very clear about whether linking EUPL licensed library creates derivative work, so I want to explicitly allow it for both ...
user18573
4
votes
2
answers
758
views
What is the purpose of the LGPL re-linking requirement?
I understand that in using a LGPL library in your application, you have to provide a re-linking mechanism for the end user (by linking to the library dynamically or providing all your object files ...
- 153
12
votes
1
answer
5k
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Can I use (statically or dynamically linked) mingw-w64 runtime libraries for commercial purposes?
I'm planning to use mingw-w64 for commercial software and I'm looking for info about it's licensing. I was looking through licenses included in package and some discussions on forums and mailing lists ...
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2
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What happens when I use LGPL Qt 5 toolkit to link statically for a closed source (proprietary) application?
I come from a country "ALGERIA" where nobody buys a software license even the government, except fore rare cases where the government institution is very sensitive, other governmental institutions ...
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4
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1
answer
144
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Can Apache/BSD application contain optional (commented out) hooks to link to GPL code?
I am an author of a non-GPL code that is distributed under an Apache license. There is a GPL2 library (not LGPL) that many users will commonly want to link to that provides part of our algorithm, but ...
- 141
6
votes
1
answer
1k
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Can GPL with linking exception be linked with GPL and non-GPL simultaneously?
Let's say I have:
A GPL module with linking exception.
A non-GPL module.
A pure-GPL module.
I know that module 1 can be linked with module 2.
My questions are:
Can I link module 1 with module 3? ...
- 163
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Does AGPL introduce a new type of linking?
I understand that using AGPL (specifically AGPL-3-or-later) means:
all the linking rules from GPL-3-or-later still apply
additionally, a user accessing the software over a network should have access ...
- 1,990
4
votes
1
answer
468
views
Under AGPLv3+ do I need to provide the source for secondary applications?
I am working on a central application (AGPL3+) that will control and/or provide access to multiple secondary applications, mostly on other servers. It is trivial for me to provide the source for the ...
- 1,990
3
votes
1
answer
541
views
Is the classpath exception and the GPL linking exception the same thing?
I am looking at the exception to the GPL v2. The exception is "classpath exception" and "GPL linking exception".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPL_linking_exception also has a classpath exception.
...
- 155
2
votes
1
answer
161
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Collective work using a GPL library
Assume I have a python script that runs a GPL library binary through command line (through os.system('GPL call') and then analyze the output (which comes from the terminal). Is that a collaborative ...
- 171
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votes
4
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479
views
Is linking a correct proxy for derivative work determination in (copyleft) FOSS licenses?
I tend to use these simple tests to determine if the copyleft terms of a third-party project apply to the calling/reusing code:
if the calling code is linking (statically or dynamically) with GPL-...
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