What is Toybox? • Hacker News Board

Re: What is Toybox?

#11

Post by 1vuio0pswjnm7 » Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 7:08 AM UTC

IMHO, toybox does have some potentially advantageous differences from busybox, e.g.,

busybox seq does not have -f unlike toybox seq

busybox sed has fewer features than toybox sed, e.g., -E

busybox mv does not have -v but toybox mv has it

toybox base64 has an -i option, busybox does not

toybox hexedit has some useful features not found in busybox hexedit

toybox nc has some useful features not found in busybox nc, e.g., -U and -f

Overall, busybox has more available utilities than toybox.

Re: What is Toybox?

#12

Post by saagarjha » Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 7:18 AM UTC

So I was reading the background on Toybox and it’s definitely…interesting? Seems like the author used to work on BusyBox, had a falling out, then in a fit of pique wrote a permissively licensed version?

Re: What is Toybox?

#13

Post by 1GZ0 » Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 8:37 AM UTC

Deeply appreciate people rewriting and polishing up stuff lower down in the stack. Its work like that that makes sure the house of cards our digital infrastructure has become doesn't just collapse.

Re: What is Toybox?

#14

Post by Nursie » Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 9:07 AM UTC

saagarjha wrote: post #12

So I was reading the background on Toybox and it’s definitely…interesting? Seems like the author used to work on BusyBox, had a falling out, then in a fit of pique wrote a permissively licensed version?

IIRC busybox became part of some GPL enforcement lawsuit(s) because it was being packaged in a lot of embedded situations without the necessary source-publishing.

So the author split off to work on toybox instead, a new implementation under permissive licensing.

I guess it just goes to show you should pick licenses that actually reflect what you want to happen to your code.

Re: What is Toybox?

#15

Post by erikbye » Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 10:55 AM UTC

tempcommenttt wrote: post #6

This doesn’t explain what toybox is. Maybe I should ask ChatGPT

The explanation is in the first sentence. How much clearer could he be?

Re: What is Toybox?

#16

Post by singpolyma3 » Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 12:12 PM UTC

> Busybox predates Android, but has never shipped with Android due to the license.

Wouldn't want any GPL'd code in android... Oh wait

Re: What is Toybox?

#17

Post by synergy20 » Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 12:16 PM UTC

Nursie wrote: post #14

saagarjha wrote: post #12

So I was reading the background on Toybox and it’s definitely…interesting? Seems like the author used to work on BusyBox, had a falling out, then in a fit of pique wrote a permissively licensed version?

IIRC busybox became part of some GPL enforcement lawsuit(s) because it was being packaged in a lot of embedded situations without the necessary source-publishing. So the author split off to work on toybox instead, a new implementation under permissive licensing. I guess it just goes to show you should pick licenses that actually reflect what you want to happen to your code.

true. I worked with landley when he started toybox, mainly because of BusyBox license.android uses it now.

Re: What is Toybox?

#18

Post by mijoharas » Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 1:01 PM UTC

singpolyma3 wrote: post #16

> Busybox predates Android, but has never shipped with Android due to the license. Wouldn't want any GPL'd code in android... Oh wait

I think I'm missing context on what you're referring to. Does AOSP include a lot of GPL'd software or something? Do they not comply with the GPL license? (are you talking about the linux kernel or something?)

Re: What is Toybox?

#19

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 3:08 PM UTC

1vuio0pswjnm7 wrote: post #11

IMHO, toybox does have some potentially advantageous differences from busybox, e.g., busybox seq does not have -f unlike toybox seq busybox sed has fewer features than toybox sed, e.g., -E busybox mv does not have -v but toybox mv has it toybox base64 has an -i option, busybox does not toybox hexedit has some useful features not found in busybox hexedit toybox nc has some useful features not found in busybox nc, e.g.…

[deleted]

Re: What is Toybox?

#20

Post by yjftsjthsd-h » Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 3:40 PM UTC

mijoharas wrote: post #18

singpolyma3 wrote: post #16

> Busybox predates Android, but has never shipped with Android due to the license. Wouldn't want any GPL'd code in android... Oh wait

I think I'm missing context on what you're referring to. Does AOSP include a lot of GPL'd software or something? Do they not comply with the GPL license? (are you talking about the linux kernel or something?)

AFAIK the only GPL code in AOSP is the kernel... so, y'know, just one of the most important parts of the system.