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Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code

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Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code

#2

Post by dgellow »

Quoting the first tweet:

> Google replaced pushing Git tags for certain source code with obtaining source code via Google Drive after making a request through Google Forms. It's completely ridiculous and they've gradually become very slow at handling requests. They're in clear violation of the GPLv2 now.

Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code

#4

Post by jmole »

“In violation of GPL” is a stretch.

Can’t imagine Google is making the process of obtaining source code easier on themselves though.

Android has always been more source-open than “open source”. The vast majority of community contributions that make it into the codebase are security fixes and small bug fixes.

Everything else is essentially all the work of Google and (to some extent) Samsung.

Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code

#5

Post by ajross »

jmole wrote: post #4

“In violation of GPL” is a stretch. Can’t imagine Google is making the process of obtaining source code easier on themselves though. Android has always been more source-open than “open source”. The vast majority of community contributions that make it into the codebase are security fixes and small bug fixes. Everything else is essentially all the work of Google and (to some extent) Samsung.

> “In violation of GPL” is a stretch.

The originally envisioned distribution method, in fact, was "Send FSF a blank 9-track tape and they'll fill it and mail it back". Nor, obviously, does anything prevent someone who downloads this from Drive from mirroring it on GitHub or wherever.

This is arguably bad stewardship of a historically open source project. It's certainly not a license violation.

Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code

#6

Post by rlpb »

dgellow wrote: post #2

Quoting the first tweet: > Google replaced pushing Git tags for certain source code with obtaining source code via Google Drive after making a request through Google Forms. It's completely ridiculous and they've gradually become very slow at handling requests. They're in clear violation of the GPLv2 now.

Didn't Google work very hard to avoid any GPL in Android, apart from the kernel? What is in there that is GPL?

Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code

#7

Post by Brian_K_White »

ajross wrote: post #5
jmole wrote: post #4

“In violation of GPL” is a stretch. Can’t imagine Google is making the process of obtaining source code easier on themselves though. Android has always been more source-open than “open source”. The vast majority of community contributions that make it into the codebase are security fixes and small bug fixes. Everything else is essentially all the work of Google and (to some extent) Samsung.

> “In violation of GPL” is a stretch. The originally envisioned distribution method, in fact, was "Send FSF a blank 9-track tape and they'll fill it and mail it back". Nor, obviously, does anything prevent someone who downloads this from Drive from mirroring it on GitHub or wherever. This is arguably bad stewardship of a historically open source project. It's certainly not a license violation.

It's paying a bill in pennies.

Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code

#8

Post by osmsucks »

spydum wrote: post #3

isn't this just malicious compliance? not clear how this would violate GPLv2?

Yeah, I agree. While this is a terrible move IMHO, from my superficial reading of the GPLv2 it doesn't really constitute a violation: the license imposes that the source be distributed to anyone who asks, potentially even charge a fee to cover its distribution costs, but it doesn't require that development happen in the open.

Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code

#9

Post by jsiepkes »

jmole wrote: post #4

“In violation of GPL” is a stretch. Can’t imagine Google is making the process of obtaining source code easier on themselves though. Android has always been more source-open than “open source”. The vast majority of community contributions that make it into the codebase are security fixes and small bug fixes. Everything else is essentially all the work of Google and (to some extent) Samsung.

> Everything else is essentially all the work of Google and (to some extent) Samsung.

There is plenty in Android which isn't the work of Google. For starters the Kotlin implementation and the Java implementation (OpenJDK).

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