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

[G. Allegri]

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?

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.html
> > >
> > > > [2]
> > >
> > > http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/qgis-developer/2012-March/019000.html
> > >
> > > > 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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> > >
> > > --
> > > Tim Sutton - QGIS Project Steering Committee Member (Release  Manager)
> > > ==============================================
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