Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 12:58 PM, Dmitry Boyarintsev via Lazaruswrote: > On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 1:24 PM, Michael Van Canneyt via Lazarus > wrote: >> >> Take a routine that converts an integer to a string: Why would you >> force someone to change what is an obvious name, simply because someone >> else already used it ? > > > I don't think that API is reviewed on per routine basis. API is reviewed as > a whole. > Also, in 2010 the first trial in US (if jurisdiction matters) court decision > was that APIs cannot be copyrighted. > To further clarify in the case of Wine, reverse engineering for interoperability and the results thereof can not violate any IP law. So this could not possibly affect either Wine or the LCL. -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 1:24 PM, Michael Van Canneyt via Lazarus < lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org> wrote: > Take a routine that converts an integer to a string: Why would you > force someone to change what is an obvious name, simply because someone > else already used it ? > I don't think that API is reviewed on per routine basis. API is reviewed as a whole. Also, in 2010 the first trial in US (if jurisdiction matters) court decision was that APIs cannot be copyrighted. So later the case was changed from a copyright violation to unfair use. That's actually contained in the court ruling as well: ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_America,_Inc._v._Google,_Inc.#Appeals_Court_and_finding_of_non-fair-use ) "Instead, the Court found that Google's purpose had been to enhance its nascent Android platform's attractiveness to existing developers, who were often familiar with Java, and to avoid the "drudgery" of rewriting the code (which they could have done) needed to implement the 170 lines of API detail which were indeed required." In general, they're not trying to impose a copyright on each function declaration owned by Oracle. Instead, they're claiming that Google made an unfair use of Oracle's (Sun) work. The unfairness is driven by Google competing with the Oracle with its Android system. If Microsoft will try to come up with its own "windows emulator" for Linux, then they might run into issues with Wine (but Wine would likely win, because they were there first, providing binary compatibility) thanks, Dmitry -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] How to solve this coding problem?
A follow up. I remember Delphi 3 had an object browser and managed to get a screen capture: https://cache.getlazarus.org/images/object-browser.gif It had a few useful features. 1) It listed the entire hierarchy of classes at your disposal, unlimited by unit selection. Therefore you could look at classes and their methods, rather than picking through unit names. 2) When a class was selected you could see all its properties and methods, even if they were defined in a parent class. Also it would note whether methods were virtual and display their visibility level. I can't remember was references was, but if it listed places in code where the type was referenced, now that would be cool. I think this could be done for Lazarus using CodeTools. Improvements I'd like to see would be to include method and property argument signatures in the list on the right. For example: TCustomForm [PU] procedure GetPreferredSize(var PreferredWidth, PreferredHeight: Integer; Raw: Boolean = False; WithThemeSpace: Boolean = True); Where [PU] would be an icon denoting it's public. Also, a would be nice to have would be making members searchable. That is you could type "Size", and all fields, methods, and properties of known with the partial match "Size" in their identifying name would show up. And clicking one that one result would take you to the entire list of members for that type. So if you were to search for "Size", and double clicked on the "[PU] procedure TCustomForm.GetPreferredSize" line, which was one of may results, you'd be taken to the entire listing of TCustomForm inside the same object browser window. Your thoughts? -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
On Sun, 15 Apr 2018, Dmitry Boyarintsev via Lazarus wrote: On Sunday, April 15, 2018, Michael Van Canneyt via Lazarus < lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org> wrote: Of course not. Copyright is theft. Ideas should always be free. API is an implementation of an idea, and it’s up to the author to define license of use. Take a routine that converts an integer to a string: Why would you force someone to change what is an obvious name, simply because someone else already used it ? Ridiculous. Michael.-- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
On Sunday, April 15, 2018, Michael Van Canneyt via Lazarus < lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org> wrote: > > Of course not. Copyright is theft. Ideas should always be free. API is an implementation of an idea, and it’s up to the author to define license of use. Thanks, Dmitry -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
On Sun, 15 Apr 2018, Dmitry Boyarintsev via Lazarus wrote: Btw, the same wikipedia article references POSIX interface. That's actually an example of copyrighted API. In my opinion, having API copyrighted makes sense. Of course not. Copyright is theft. Ideas should always be free. Michael. -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 4:42 AM, Adrian Veith via Lazarus < lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org> wrote: > there is an article on phoronix > https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item=Oracle- > vs-Google-Wine-API, > which shows that the Google vs Oracle case is concerning Wine developers > because Wine mimics the Windows-API with the function names and > parameters. Under this light the LCL might also be affected because it > mimics the VCL to a large degree - and many fcl libraries mimic > corresponding Delphi libraries. What do you think ? > Reading the wikipedia article (referenced from the article above): "The Court found that as a matter of law, Google's use of Java could not have fallen within fair use,..." ..."It was not transformative in the sense of a new platform either, since other Java smartphones predated Android" In case if Wine, this is actually the case. Because no Windows API existed on Linux platforms, except for Wine. It's also the case for FPC and LCL. I guess the bigger complaint is about: "It was not within any example of transformation, nor intended to permit third party interoperability, since Google had made no substantial efforts to use them for the purpose of third party interoperability. (In fact it found that Google had tried to prevent interoperability with other Java and had previously been refused a license by Sun for that reason)" Btw, the same wikipedia article references POSIX interface. That's actually an example of copyrighted API. In my opinion, having API copyrighted makes sense. It's similar copyrighting hardware interfaces such as USB, COM and HDMI ports. (there was quite a fight around those in the past) A well written API helps dramatically, while poorly written API requires a lot of work with every new version of API released (compare OpenGL vs DirectX) At the same time both POSIX and OpenGL were created as "API" (interface) standards. I'm not sure with WindowsAPI or Delphi were intended as as such. They are more platform specific interfaces (rather than cross-platform) Borland couldn't reuse VCL with Kylix, instead they came up with CLX instead. Where Lazarus with sweat-and-blood keeps up with LCL. Naturally, interfaces between FPC/Lazarus and Delphi are already quite far from one another. thanks, Dmitry -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
On 2018-04-15 14:14, Adrian Veith via Lazarus wrote: > but if there are financial successful applications in the US written in > Lazarus/fpc it might be interesting for them. Creating commercial software, you don't have to divulge what tools you used to develop that software. At least the FPC and LCL licenses don't require that. Regards, Graeme -- fpGUI Toolkit - a cross-platform GUI toolkit using Free Pascal http://fpgui.sourceforge.net/ My public PGP key: http://tinyurl.com/graeme-pgp -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
On 2018-04-15 13:11, Mark Morgan Lloyd via Lazarus wrote: > and copyright is governed > by international treaties. And like Michael said, the majority of FPC and Lazarus developers are all based outside of the USA - and most in the EU. Very different laws in the EU. > Leaving aside the question of jurisdiction and differing tolerance of > reverse engineering etc. Nothing was reversed engineered. The API's are openly documented in help files, wiki pages etc. > the company that owned the > rights to Delphi made commercial use of the FPC compiler. And with that EMBT probably doesn't have a leg to stand on. The only game EMBT can now play is purposely change behaviour or implement things differently to FPC and Lazarusu - which EMBT is already doing. Maybe live harder for the open source projects. Regards, Graeme -- fpGUI Toolkit - a cross-platform GUI toolkit using Free Pascal http://fpgui.sourceforge.net/ My public PGP key: http://tinyurl.com/graeme-pgp -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
[Lazarus] How to solve this coding problem?
So I am writing a tool to share with the community and found a problem with using Lazarus and packages. I hope someone has an answer to this. The problem is that when you are using packages, often there is no practical way to find the methods and properties even if you have the source code. Here is an example of the problem: https://cache.getlazarus.org/videos/code-tools-problem.mp4 Whats happening here is there is a VERY deep hierarchy of inherited classes, there is no documentation, and the IDE provides no tool or way to view the methods and properties of a type, except for what's actually declared on the class. This makes it near impossible to effectively make use of many things unless you are the original author and know the methods and proeprties of the entire hierarchy by memorization. What we need is a tool window in the IDE that shows you a list of all classes/interfaces/types/vars/consts in the packages loaded in a project, and selecting said class/interface shows you all its methods and properties. Both the methods and properties on the class, but also inherited methods and properties in one single list, all the way down to TObject/IInterface. Without the need to open the inherited class or method to view them separately. It needs to be a single list, otherwise your chasing a bunch of different windows/tree nodes jsut to figure things out. So, we should be able to view these methods and properties in a single window that isn't a hint window. In a window that can stay open for browsing. In a window hopefully with the ability to be docked so it can be used as a reference or guide while writing code. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks. -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
Am 15.04.2018 um 12:18 schrieb Graeme Geldenhuys via Lazarus: > why would Google, Oracle or Microsoft bother with something > as small as FPC or Lazarus. They just wont - it will be a colossal waste > of time for them with no financial reward. > It wouldn't be Google, Oracle or Microsoft, but Embarcadero/Idera. I don't think they would tackle the FPC or Lazarus developers directly, but if there are financial successful applications in the US written in Lazarus/fpc it might be interesting for them. Adrian. -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
On 15/04/18 10:30, Graeme Geldenhuys via Lazarus wrote: On 2018-04-15 09:42, Adrian Veith via Lazarus wrote:> What do you think ? It will never concern or worry use. Why...? If Embarcadero can't evenbother, or simply can't stop Code Typhon in shipping a leaked FMXframework, why would Google, Oracle or Microsoft bother with somethingas small as FPC or Lazarus. They just wont - it will be a colossal wasteof time for them with no financial reward. I'd suggest that that is not a safe assumption: "We didn't think anybody would notice" has never been a valid defence, and copyright is governed by international treaties. Leaving aside the question of jurisdiction and differing tolerance of reverse engineering etc. in different countries, I'd suggest that the most relevant thing is that at one point the company that owned the rights to Delphi made commercial use of the FPC compiler. They cannot claim to be ignorant of the function and structure names in the FCL, and the fact that they (presumably) did not challenge the FPC developers at that point would probably make it more difficult to do so now. -- Mark Morgan Lloyd markMLl .AT. telemetry.co .DOT. uk [Opinions above are the author's, not those of his employers or colleagues] -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
It would not be possible to ask embarcadero for permission to use the names of the functions of the old vcl. I think that lazarus will eventually benefit them too, because it makes pascal / delphi better known, and eventually a pascal user can choose between delphi and lazarus. Il 15/04/2018 12:15, Michael Van Canneyt via Lazarus ha scritto: On Sun, 15 Apr 2018, Adrian Veith via Lazarus wrote: Hi, there is an article on phoronix https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item=Oracle-vs-Google-Wine-API, which shows that the Google vs Oracle case is concerning Wine developers because Wine mimics the Windows-API with the function names and parameters. Under this light the LCL might also be affected because it mimics the VCL to a large degree - and many fcl libraries mimic corresponding Delphi libraries. What do you think ? For starters, most of FPC based developers are not in the US. So the rulings of a US court do not apply to them. Many of them are based in Europe, where different laws apply. So, strictly speaking, if it turns out the ruling applies to LCL/FCL, it means that US citizens will not be allowed to use the LCL/FCL. Michael. -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
On 2018-04-15 09:42, Adrian Veith via Lazarus wrote: > What do you think ? It will never concern or worry use. Why...? If Embarcadero can't even bother, or simply can't stop Code Typhon in shipping a leaked FMX framework, why would Google, Oracle or Microsoft bother with something as small as FPC or Lazarus. They just wont - it will be a colossal waste of time for them with no financial reward. Regards, Graeme -- fpGUI Toolkit - a cross-platform GUI toolkit using Free Pascal http://fpgui.sourceforge.net/ My public PGP key: http://tinyurl.com/graeme-pgp -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
Re: [Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
On Sun, 15 Apr 2018, Adrian Veith via Lazarus wrote: Hi, there is an article on phoronix https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item=Oracle-vs-Google-Wine-API, which shows that the Google vs Oracle case is concerning Wine developers because Wine mimics the Windows-API with the function names and parameters. Under this light the LCL might also be affected because it mimics the VCL to a large degree - and many fcl libraries mimic corresponding Delphi libraries. What do you think ? For starters, most of FPC based developers are not in the US. So the rulings of a US court do not apply to them. Many of them are based in Europe, where different laws apply. So, strictly speaking, if it turns out the ruling applies to LCL/FCL, it means that US citizens will not be allowed to use the LCL/FCL. Michael. -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus
[Lazarus] Google vs Oracle case - does it affect LCL ?
Hi, there is an article on phoronix https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item=Oracle-vs-Google-Wine-API, which shows that the Google vs Oracle case is concerning Wine developers because Wine mimics the Windows-API with the function names and parameters. Under this light the LCL might also be affected because it mimics the VCL to a large degree - and many fcl libraries mimic corresponding Delphi libraries. What do you think ? Adrian. -- ___ Lazarus mailing list Lazarus@lists.lazarus-ide.org https://lists.lazarus-ide.org/listinfo/lazarus