[Qgis-developer] import proprietary code inside a python plugin

Mon Mar 26 17:25:51 EDT 2012

Perfect. I find thinking in the terms of process space a clear criterior.
This makes dynamic and static linking equivalent...

So, going back to SEXTANTE, it can be given an LGPL license but it cannot
use non-free code when used through Qgis, while it's free to do it when
used through, e.g., ArcGIS.
Please, tell me it's right, otherwise I end the day with another doubt! :)

giovanni

2012/3/26 Vincent Picavet <vincent.ml at oslandia.com>

> Hi,
>
> > Ok, going through hyopthesis things are getting clear:
> > my plugin is ok until it doesn't load something proprietary in its
> process
> > space. As soon as it happens I must be able to provide the source of
> every
> > code running in the same process. Right?
> Right.
> Importing esri python module falls into that category.
> Vincent
>
> >
> > giovanni
> >
> > 2012/3/26 Vincent Picavet <vincent.ml at oslandia.com>
> >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > Le lundi 26 mars 2012 21:32:31, G. Allegri a écrit :
> > > > Ah, Tim, it's getting clear. Thanks.
> > > > The key point is distribution, as always with GPL.
> > > > In my case I won't distribute the ESRI geoprocessing libraries,
> they're
> > > > part of the ArcGIS distribution, which is only availbale to users
> > > > having
> > >
> > > it
> > >
> > > > installed on they're computers.
> > > >
> > > > The import satement will success only if the user have the ArcGIS
> > > > product installed, otherwise it will fail. As a consequence I felt I
> > > > could
> > >
> > >  freely
> > >
> > > > distribute my plugin as it doesn't strictly require the proprietary
> > > > side
> > >
> > > to
> > >
> > > > run.
> > >
> > > No you are wrong, as soon as your plugin is distributed and linked with
> > > arcgis, you have to licence everything as GPL and therefore provide
> > > sources.
> > >
> > > > Doesn't GDAL do the same with ECW?! Ok GDAL are LGPL. Is this the key
> > > > difference?
> > >
> > > Yes
> > >
> > > > Moreover it doesn't expose the QGis APIs to ArcGIS, and viceversa, so
> > > > it only bridges the two world to interchange the data.
> > >
> > > Bridging with an import is a link. If you want to exchange data, do it
> > > without
> > > the import and separate your modules.
> > >
> > > please re-read my post and mentionned the FSF faq. Everything is in
> > > there.
> > >
> > > Vincent
> > >
> > > > giovanni
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 2012/3/26 Tim Sutton <lists at linfiniti.com>
> > > >
> > > > > Hi
> > > > >
> > > > > On Mon, Mar 26, 2012 at 4:52 PM, G. Allegri <giohappy at gmail.com>
> > >
> > > wrote:
> > > > > > Through the various considerations on this topic there are two
> > > > > > positions
> > > > >
> > > > > the
> > > > >
> > > > > > seems contradictory to me:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "I did some research on this, and the conclusion is that import
> is
> > > > > > functionally and legally equivalent to linking during
> compilation,
> > > > > > so everything that imports qgis must be GPL." [1]
> > > > >
> > > > > So if you plan to distribute although technically possible to link
> to
> > > > > a proprietary module, its not legall possible.
> > > > >
> > > > > > then
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "you can import/link proprietary code into gpl code, provided you
> > >
> > > have
> > >
> > > > > > a license to do it."
> > > > >
> > > > > So if you have the license to ESRI etc. to use their libraries you
> > > > > are welcome to make yourself a QGIS frontend to ArcSomething, but
> > > > > you cant legally distribute that.
> > > > >
> > > > > > They probably mean different things and they're not in
> > > > > > contradiction.
> > > > >
> > > > > Being
> > > > >
> > > > > > an important point to me, could you help in understanding it?
> > > > >
> > > > > Above is my understanding of those points anyway....
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards
> > > > >
> > > > > Tim
> > > > >
> > > > > > thanks a lot,
> > > > > > Giovanni
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > [1]
> > > > >
> > > > >
> http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/qgis-developer/2012-March/018976.htm
> > > > > l
> > > > >
> > > > > > [2]
> > > > >
> > > > >
> http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/qgis-developer/2012-March/019000.htm
> > > > > l
> > > > >
> > > > > > 2012/3/26 G. Allegri <giohappy at gmail.com>
> > > > > >
> > > > > >> I think you're right but watch the reality from a worldwide
> point
> > > > > >> of
> > > > >
> > > > > view.
> > > > >
> > > > > >> I work mostly with foreign countries, not EU/USA. National
> offices
> > >
> > > and
> > >
> > > > > >> agencies budgets are far beyond the license fees, so they don't
> > > > > >> care
> > > > >
> > > > > for it
> > > > >
> > > > > >> very much. They pay yearly for something that already do the
> work
> > >
> > > they
> > >
> > > > > need,
> > > > >
> > > > > >> without having to do contracts for development, define
> > > > > >> requirements,
> > > > >
> > > > > etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > >> This is the reality. In my courses, even those based on ESRI
> > >
> > > software,
> > >
> > > > > >> I always introduce FOSS solutions. Sometimes it raises interest,
> > >
> > > most
> > >
> > > > > >> of
> > > > >
> > > > > times
> > > > >
> > > > > >> they don't care. They want the job done, and they don't pay for
> > > > > >> the
> > > > >
> > > > > license.
> > > > >
> > > > > >> That's it.
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >> Anyway, if I wouldn't think that (most) of times a free solution
> > >
> > > could
> > >
> > > > > be
> > > > >
> > > > > >> the best way, I wouldn't be here to talk about it ;)
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >> giovanni
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >> 2012/3/26 Sandro Santilli <strk at keybit.net>
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >>> On Mon, Mar 26, 2012 at 03:31:53PM +0200, G. Allegri wrote:
> > > > > >>> > I totally agree with you, but reality is a bit different.
> Many
> > > > > >>> > agencies,
> > > > > >>> > corporates, etc. are not considering to leave they're
> > > > > >>> > infrastructure.
> > > > > >>>
> > > > > >>> It's their choice, they'll have to bear the consequences of
> that.
> > > > > >>>
> > > > > >>> > I suggest solutions to interoperate, not to switch the whole
> > >
> > > thing.
> > >
> > > > > >>> What I'm saying is that it just costs more. And rightly so.
> > > > > >>> It is no interest of the free software users to make it any
> > >
> > > cheaper,
> > >
> > > > > >>> IMHO.
> > > > > >>>
> > > > > >>> > It would be easier, and a lot cheeper, if everybody talked
> one
> > > > > >>> > language.
> > > > > >>>
> > > > > >>> +1
> > > > > >>>
> > > > > >>> > But we have hundreads of languages in the world, and we have
> to
> > > > > >>> > deal with
> > > > > >>> > this.
> > > > > >>>
> > > > > >>> People grow up learning the language of their mothers.
> > > > > >>> Nobody has to pay a license to _use_ that language.
> > > > > >>> And anyone can learn.
> > > > > >>> We're really not talking about the same thing.
> > > > > >>>
> > > > > >>> --strk;
> > > > > >
> > > > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > > > > Qgis-developer at lists.osgeo.org
> > > > > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-developer
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Tim Sutton - QGIS Project Steering Committee Member (Release
> > > > > Manager) ==============================================
> > > > > Please do not email me off-list with technical
> > > > > support questions. Using the lists will gain
> > > > > more exposure for your issues and the knowledge
> > > > > surrounding your issue will be shared with all.
> > > > >
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>
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