I agree with Art that Vista and Mumps are separate products that can be distributed
under two different licenses. However, I think the concern has been whether Vista has
a 100% public domain or GPL code base (down to the operating system level). Running
GPL code on top of proprietary code is possible, but it is like building a skyscrapper
on top of a shaky foundation.
Therefore, before I integrate OIO code with Vista, I need to resolve the following:
1) GT.M sounds promising, but until it is released (i.e. open source=with source
code), it is vaporware.
2) The dependence on a "non-open source M
code generator in order to to execute. There will be a free version of the M code
generator for Linux, but not for any other platforms"
(Wayne Wilson Thu, 09 Nov 2000 09:58:45 -0500).
I agree that we are getting closer - but not quite there yet.
Andrew
---
Andrew P. Ho, M.D.
OIO: Open Infrastructure for Outcomes
www.TxOutcome.Org
Assistant Clinical Professor
Department of Psychiatry, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
University of California, Los Angeles
On Thu, 9 Nov 2000 09:16:59 Smith, Arthur B. wrote:
>Ok, I finally understand what the concern is now, re: forking (thanks Bud!)
>I guess, but I still think it's wrong. GT.M and Vista are and always will
>be two separate things. If I distribute software, and some of it is GPL
>software, that doesn't mean that everything I ship (or even sell) must also
>be under GPL. The GPL is "sticky" -- but it doesn't infect everything it
>touches! If I distribute a GPL MUMPS, and I also distribute a public-domain
>Vista, that's fine. I can modify either and they each remain under the same
>license. As long as they remain two separate products, they are just that
>-- two separate products. There's nothing that prevents you from
>distributing them that way, no matter how you modify either one. Vista is
>independent of the MUMPS system on which it runs -- very carefully and
>deliberately so! I think this concern over the GPL vs FOIA licensing is
>just smoke.
>
> Just my $.02
>
> -art
>
>Arthur B. Smith
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