On Wed, Feb 16, 2005 at 10:47:17PM +0100, Vojtech Pavlik wrote: > On Wed, Feb 16, 2005 at 09:14:31PM +0000, Karel Kulhavy wrote: > > Hello > > > > I have changed my attempt for free technology definition a bit after > > discussion > > with my friend Vojtech, who proposed that development documentation should > > be > > a requirement for something to be considered a free technology. > > My intention was not to require documentation to be included, I rather > meant an extension to the GPL source code requirement to > non-programmatical works. > > GPL defines 'source code' as a form of the program most suitable for > modifications. > > For an electronic gadget, this definitely is not the board layout, since > if you do modifications, you do them at the schematic level. > > However the schema is also not carrying enough information for > modifications, since the reasoning behind component values in it is > missing. > > So, as a 'source form' for an electronic device, I'd consider the > schematic, plus the reasoning and equations that led to creating it and > populating it with the specific parts that are used in it. > > Similarly there should be information included how to go from the > schematic to the layout level, where there are problems with > interference, crosstalk, impedance, etc looming, so that the process > done by the original author is repeatable by other people. > > Note that the depth and scope of the information varies by the knowledge > level of the audience. > > The same applies to comments in the source code of programs. > > One should assume a skilled reader for the minimal amount of information > needed, however going into more detail never hurts.
Bot does it mean that if I took Linux Kernel code and stripped all the comments (which I assume wouldn't have even a tiniest bit of influence on the functionality) that I would violate GPL? This is what is interesting for me. If I decide that some development doc for Ronja is Ideologically Required (TM), then I won't suffer writing documentation because I could develop instead, and instead be peacefully relaxed due to Higher Ideals (TM) ;-) Another question: where does the borderline between minimum doc required from the GPL and additional optional doc lie? Or how can I determine it? Cl<
