gnupic: Re: [gnupic] GCC port for PIC
Subject:
Re: [gnupic] GCC port for PIC
From:
Alex Holden ####@####.####
Date:
5 Apr 2006 09:09:22 +0100
Message-Id: <511B85C9-9989-4165-B58C-AD875140A582@linuxhacker.org>
On 5 Apr 2006, at 08:23, Colm O' Flaherty wrote:
> I'm dubious sure that what Microchip (in your links) say about the
> legality of using the library/header files/ linker scripts from the
> C30 package is actually correct, or just misinformed. Their
> offering is based on the gnu cc compiler; is packaged and sold as a
> unit, and so *is* fully governed by the GPL. They've even included
> the standard header in their source code..
They can put whatever license they want on their C library, library
headers, and linker scripts if they wrote them from scratch, as they
are not linked to any of the GCC libraries or executables. There is
precedent for this - Rowley's Crossworks for ARM for example.
There's nothing to stop you using the compiler itself (which is
GPLed) with an open source C library and your own linker scripts, but
if they say you can't use their library and linker scripts without
paying a license fee, you should respect their wishes.
> In short, the MPLAB C30 package *is* a derivative work of the GNU
> cc compiler, and so Microchip cannot impose additional licence
> constraints, as they seem to be doing. They are also required to
> make available the full source for their package (not just the gnu-
> gcc portion), including the source for the licence manager, etc.
That's incorrect. As long as the license manager program doesn't
contain any GPL code, they don't need to place it under the GPL. The
fact that it's distributed in a "package" along with some GPLed
programs isn't relevant. See the stuff in the GPL about
"aggregation". I'm not quite sure why you would want the source to
the license manager though.
> Subroutines for insn output for Microchip dsPIC30.
This file appears to be a part of GCC itself, which is clearly GPLed.
The issue is with the C library and linker scripts, not the compiler.
--
------------ Alex Holden - http://www.alexholden.net/ ------------
If it doesn't work, you're not hitting it with a big enough hammer
