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Google releases full Android 4.0.1 source code, includes Honeycomb too

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Re: Google releases full Android 4.0.1 source code, includes Honeycomb too

#61

Post by orangecat »

pingswept wrote: post #56
ubernostrum wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So... call me crazy, but I think it's wrong to praise a project which claims to be open-source for, um, actually releasing source. And honestly, the fact that we've come to this indicates just how completely Google has failed at being an open-source citizen.

Yeah, I see your point. But I think it would be lame for me to make fun of them for a year (or however long Honeycomb has existed in closed-source form) and then not at least acknowledge that they did finally release the source. I said "well done," but maybe "at least you're in compliance with the GPL" would be more appropriate.

They've always been in compliance with the GPL; the Honeycomb kernel sources were always available.

Re: Google releases full Android 4.0.1 source code, includes Honeycomb too

#62

Post by recoiledsnake »

pingswept wrote: post #59
juliano_q wrote: post #55

Google releases every source code except Honeycomb. I think the code was really ugly, released urgently to support tablets. I cant blame Google, we who works with software in big companies know how pressure and strict timelines can be a pain, but I am glad that things are back on track.

I agree that pressure and strict timelines can be a pain, but compliance with the GPL is not optional.

They released the GPL parts.

Re: Google releases full Android 4.0.1 source code, includes Honeycomb too

#63

Post by pingswept »

ubernostrum wrote: post #57
pingswept wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I see your point. But I think it would be lame for me to make fun of them for a year (or however long Honeycomb has existed in closed-source form) and then not at least acknowledge that they did finally release the source. I said "well done," but maybe "at least you're in compliance with the GPL" would be more appropriate.

"Well done, you've put in the bare minimum amount of effort required to still get away with the open-source moniker" is not particularly flattering...

You are correct. That is approximately my feeling about the situation, but, like giving a dog a treat when it behaves well, I think it's good to praise companies for behaving adequately because I think it increases the chances that they will keep doing it.

You hear that, diBona? Keep releasing the code!

Re: Google releases full Android 4.0.1 source code, includes Honeycomb too

#64

Post by pingswept »

orangecat wrote: post #61
pingswept wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I see your point. But I think it would be lame for me to make fun of them for a year (or however long Honeycomb has existed in closed-source form) and then not at least acknowledge that they did finally release the source. I said "well done," but maybe "at least you're in compliance with the GPL" would be more appropriate.

They've always been in compliance with the GPL; the Honeycomb kernel sources were always available.

I hadn't heard that. Is that verifiable by any means at this point?

It still doesn't justify the "open source" moniker, but it's still good.

Re: Google releases full Android 4.0.1 source code, includes Honeycomb too

#65

Post by pingswept »

recoiledsnake wrote: post #62
pingswept wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that pressure and strict timelines can be a pain, but compliance with the GPL is not optional.

They released the GPL parts.

I hadn't heard that. Is that verifiable at this point by some means?

Re: Google releases full Android 4.0.1 source code, includes Honeycomb too

#68

Post by wmf »

pingswept wrote: post #64
orangecat wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They've always been in compliance with the GPL; the Honeycomb kernel sources were always available.

I hadn't heard that. Is that verifiable by any means at this point? It still doesn't justify the "open source" moniker, but it's still good.

The kernel source was at http://android.git.kernel.org/ but that server was subsequently destroyed in an unrelated incident and at this point you'd need a time machine to verify that it was really there and hasn't just been backdated, but yeah, it was available.

Re: Google releases full Android 4.0.1 source code, includes Honeycomb too

#70

Post by burgerbrain »

adgar wrote: post #50
rwolf wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only stated reason I've heard is "the code is ugly," which was found to be... unconvincing here on HN. Are you aware of another reason, specifically one which would be convincing?

The stated reason wasn't that the code was ugly, it's that it didn't translate to phones at all; Honeycomb was only ever really good for tablets. There was concern that manufacturers/homebrewers would put it on phones and that doing so would make android look like shit.

By that logic they should have never released the source code for any of Android, since Android is shit on desktop PCs.
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