This is as it should be. You cannot create an ecosystem that is diametrically opposed to every principle the FSF has ever stood for, and then expect to be able to distribute GPL licensed code from it. I'm actually glad to see the GPL working.
No GPL Apps for Apple's App Store
21–30 of 94 posts
Re: No GPL Apps for Apple's App Store
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
This keeps being brought up, the whole apple not contributing back to FreeBSD, but I would urge you to please look through FreeBSD's CVS history to find all of the places that Apple HAS indeed contributed back (I've made several comments with links to such sources on HN before). Apple also has an entire website dedicated to the various pieces of source code for their OS, and other tools, and are actively developing c…
As somebody who actually has to use Apple's "open source" website, you have to realize that the code for the projects listed there is often: a) out of date or unrealized (for which they are entitled to do with BSD code, but when it comes to GPL I file complaints) b) redacted and uncompilable (they purposely remove source code for specific targets that is still listed in the build environment, or hold back critical he…
so that they can avoid gcc 4.3+, when it went GPLv3. It was hard enough for them before: gcc was the one place they have been unable to redact and hoard their ARM contributions, but with GPLv3 the situation becomes untenable for them.
How come GPLv3 (as opposed to GPLv2) is not in Apple's liking?
Re: No GPL Apps for Apple's App Store
#23To me this seems like a failure of the simplicity of the GPL, but with no easy fix. Apple doesn't want to restrict the program to anyone, they just want to have their distribution process restrictive. If there was a way to proxy the supply of the restriction-free binary and/or source code of the app there wouldn't be a problem. The app submitter or VLC devs or another interested party would step up to host.
They want to restrict the program — Apple forbids private APIs, system modifications, kernel extensions, auto-updates.
Whether you need those things might be debatable, but Apple doesn't give you freedom to have them, and adds DRM to prevent you from modifying the app.
Re: No GPL Apps for Apple's App Store
#24This is as it should be. You cannot create an ecosystem that is diametrically opposed to every principle the FSF has ever stood for, and then expect to be able to distribute GPL licensed code from it. I'm actually glad to see the GPL working.
Exactly. I contribute code to GPL-licensed projects, and I don't want the users of my code to be unable to fix it; it's simply not fair to distribute software that the end-users are not allowed to tweak and improve. When you distribute software on the App Store, the users get the changes I made, but I never get the chance to get changes that they would have made. Hence, a license that prohibits this unfairness is necessary, and the GPL fits the bill.
Don't get me wrong, I am fine with software that is BSD- or MIT- licensed. But I think for the best culture of contribution and sharing, you need to clearly set your expectations in the form of a license, and the GPL does exactly that.
If Apple wants the world of GPL'd code to be available on their devices, the solution is simple -- allow side-loading.
Re: No GPL Apps for Apple's App Store
#25Can't it be re-released under dual licenses? There seems to be plenty of other software out there that has done this.
Can't it be re-released under dual licenses?
In theory, yes. However you need to track down every contributor and get them to agree to the new licence. It's a logistically hard thing and might not even succeed.
Re: No GPL Apps for Apple's App Store
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
Darwin? How is it stealing if it's open source, and the end result is the best desktop OS ever created? Sheesh And Apple's work on open source Clang/LLVM and WebKit has been quite significant has it not?
"Open source" is a misleading term, please stop using it: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.h... As pointed out in other replies, Apple is working on clang because it doesn't want to deal with the GPL (unless you own Apple stock, you're the one losing because of this decision), and WebKit because it's derived from LGPL code. How much work is Apple putting into making Darwin a usable Free Soft…
Apple will take whatever is convenient. You're the one losing out
I know it's a strawman argument, but if you feel superior to Apple, how come you didn't come up with the iPhone innovation? Saying Apple doesn't care about me when they obsess about designing amazing products that blow away anything that existed before is a little big disingenuous.
Re: No GPL Apps for Apple's App Store
#27Another reason to go BSD over GPL unless you really do care about the GNU project more than shipping code & solutions.
It's not about advancing the GNU project as much as advancing the values expressed in the GPL: allowing your software to be built on by those who agree to return the favor. There's nothing wrong with reciprocity.
Re: No GPL Apps for Apple's App Store
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Open source" is a misleading term, please stop using it: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.h... As pointed out in other replies, Apple is working on clang because it doesn't want to deal with the GPL (unless you own Apple stock, you're the one losing because of this decision), and WebKit because it's derived from LGPL code. How much work is Apple putting into making Darwin a usable Free Soft…
Apple will take whatever is convenient. You're the one losing out I know it's a strawman argument, but if you feel superior to Apple, how come you didn't come up with the iPhone innovation? Saying Apple doesn't care about me when they obsess about designing amazing products that blow away anything that existed before is a little big disingenuous.
Uhm.. How does it feel to be trapped in Job's Reality Distortion Bubble?
Re: No GPL Apps for Apple's App Store
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
I drew exactly the opposite conclusion. Go with BSD if you want Apple to steal your code and contribute back nothing to the community (how much have they given back to Free/NetBSD?).
llvm, clang, webkit... Directly benefiting FreeBSD: http://wiki.freebsd.org/BuildingFreeBSDWithClang They've contributed infinitely more than "nothing" back. Literally...
Because they have no choice..
Re: No GPL Apps for Apple's App Store
#30Another reason to go BSD over GPL unless you really do care about the GNU project more than shipping code & solutions.
It's not about advancing the GNU project as much as advancing the values expressed in the GPL: allowing your software to be built on by those who agree to return the favor. There's nothing wrong with reciprocity.
The issue isn't about being able to build on top of what you built. This can still be done by open sourcing your app. The issue is distribution. Those people may not be able to redistribute the app, but they can still contribute code.