On Mon, Oct 15, 2007 at 06:47:19AM +0900, Charles D Hixson wrote:
> Chad Perrin wrote:
> >On Mon, Oct 15, 2007 at 02:50:29AM +0900, Trans wrote:
> >  
> >>Kind of fuzzy.
> >>    
> >
> >My understanding is that a gem distributed under the terms of the GPL
> >then causes the program in which you use it via a `require` statement to
> >be subject to the terms of the GPL as well.  This is, for an interpreted
> >  
> Kind of fuzzy isn't the half of it!
> 
> *It's not that clear. * Ruby programs are typically not distributed as 
> compiled works, so each file is separate.  You don't distribute the 
> complete program, only the pieces that you wrote.  The gem comes from 
> elsewhere.  And the GPL doesn't limit execution of programs, only 
> distribution.  (Most of the commentary is written from the perspective 
> of C programmers, and doesn't necessarily apply to Ruby programs.)

Yes, but . . . it's entirely possible that someone might want to ship a
bundled application.  In such a circumstance, you're probably trying to
make things convenient for an end-user that shouldn't have to know
anything about, say, ruby gems.  An installer that sticks everything in
place really changes the face of things for you in such a circumstance.

-- 
CCD CopyWrite Chad Perrin [ http://ccd.apotheon.org ]
print substr("Just another Perl hacker", 0, -2);