Now, outside my small fit of anger. Yes, I spent 3 minutes reading the
libpng license before (actually about 5 days before) and I do relise it is
not GPL. I should have been more clear in stating that I was refering to the
PiNGer code (as that is, last time I checked). I also apologize for using
"open source" as a synonym for GPL. I see now that this was a mistake.

Also Borszczuk, I am aware of the various open source licenses such as the
BSD, Mozilla Public, Artistic, and Nokia's open source license and I am
aware that there are other custom open source licenses. I also know the
definition of open source. I just missused the word. The GPL does, as Billy
put it, does have the "viral" claus that I was refering to.

Once again, I apologize for not being specific enough as to what I was
refering to and not using the phrase "open source" properly.

Now to get back to the origianl topic:

I do use PiNGer in my GPL application and it works pretty good with GIF and
PNG images. You have to mess around with the color maps a bit (yes, I know,
not recommended, but it was the only solution I could find). I spent a
weekend getting it to work on 16-bit displays, but I cannot get it to work
on a-bit displays (you can kind of make out the image, but it is more like a
rainbow).

The PNG only supports 8-bit and less PNG images. I have gotten crashes when
trying to decode 24-bit PNG images. This probably has to do with the color
maps (since they are setup for 8-bit images) and the fact that most PalmOS
devices do not have 24 bit displays (actually none do, I believe palmOne
released 2 handhelds, Tungsten E2 I think it was, with 18-bit displays).

I am currently looking at the GIF on 8-bit displays and 24-bit PNG problems,
but they are not on the top of my list. I also want to make the code from
PiNGer into an ARM-Native (GPL) GIF/PNG library. But that is low on my
priorities list.

-Donald

"Donald C. Kirker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Well excuse my ignorance. Since working on an open source project this was
> the impression I got (even when talking to somebody from GNU or who ever
> deals with the GPL). I figured libpng was under the GPL and was too busy
to
> look it up. Plus, I was refering to PiNGer, which is part of ZBoxZ. When i
> said open source I meant GPL.
>
> I apologize if I created any confusion.
>
> "Borszczuk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Donald C. Kirker wrote:
> >
> > > Beware, this code is open source, so using it in your application will
> > > require your application to be open source, unless you are willing to
> create
> > > a png library. There are a few other programs that use this png code.
> Use
> >
> > Please do not spread such false gossips. The term "Open Source" refers
to
> > software which both ensures the availability of source code and meets a
> specific
> > set of criteria related to distribution of that software. You can learn
> more
> > here: http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php Using open source
> components
> > does not automatically means your app gets "cursed" and automatically
> converted
> > to open source. What is important, is the license. Mind the difference
and
> do
> > your homework by learning how many various licenses open source can
> utilise:
> >
> > http://www.opensource.org/licenses/ or
> http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html
> > http://sourceforge.net/docman/display_doc.php?docid=778&group_id=1
> >
> > Also, what you should also understand and differce, is using shared
> library
> > in your app vs. linking statically the library with your app. This may
be
> a
> > slight difference for the app from the code point of view, but it do
> matter
> > as for license (hence i.e. GPL and LGPL). So to clarify the thing, as
> there's
> > not the place for such debate - you shall always read the license of the
> > software (opensource/closedsource/free/commercial), especially if you
want
> > to use it in your applocation or get "inspired by" its source code.
> >
> > As for libpng - you really should have spent 3 minutes reading its
license
> > prior sending your former post:
> http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/src/libpng-LICENSE.txt
> >
> > Regards,
> >
>
> "Billy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Donald C. Kirker wrote:
> > > You can either use the code from PiNGer of the ZBoxZ project or port
> libpng.
> > > Beware, this code is open source, so using it in your application will
> > > require your application to be open source, unless you are willing to
> create
> > > a png library.
> >
> > Dear future archive-reading newbie developer,
> >      To be clear, this is NOT a licensing requirement of "open source"
> > software in general.  BSD-style licenses are open source, and do
> > not have this restriction.  ZBoxZ is licensed under GNU General
> > Public License, a form of "open source" licensing which DOES have
> > this so-called "viral" clause.
> >
>
>
>



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