On Wed, Feb 16 2011, Tom Lane wrote:
> Stephen Frost <sfrost@snowman.net> writes:
>> * Tom Lane (tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us) wrote:
>>> In particular, getting rid of use of OpenSSL would not be sufficient
>>> to satisfy the most rabid GPL partisans that we were in compliance.
>
>> I've never heard anyone argue that position, don't believe anyone would,
>> and certainly don't agree with it.
>
> [ shrug ... ] Check the Postgres archives, from back around 2000 if
> memory serves.
>
> regards, tom lane
Or he could just read this essay from the FSF website:
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-not-lgpl.html
It basically tries to persuade developers to create GPLed libraries in
cases where the library provides services that are not available in
proprietary libraries. The idea is to *force* developers to use the GPL
if they want to use the library.
Here's a relevant quote that actually uses readline as an example:
However, when a library provides a significant unique capability, like GNU Readline, that's a horse of a
different color. The Readline library implements input editing and history for interactive programs, and
that'sa facility not generally available elsewhere. Releasing it under the GPL and limiting its use to
freeprograms gives our community a real boost. At least one application program is free software today
specificallybecause that was necessary for using Readline.
If we amass a collection of powerful GPL-covered libraries that have no parallel available to proprietary
software,they will provide a range of useful modules to serve as building blocks in new free programs.
Thiswill be a significant advantage for further free software development, and some projects will decide to
makesoftware free in order to use these libraries. University projects can easily be influenced; nowadays, as
companies begin to consider making software free, even some commercial projects can be influenced in this way.
IANAL, but it is hard to recommend relying on a reading of the GPL that
is inconsistent with the folks that wrote the license.
Jason