Palm Pre Open Source Packages Released | Hacker News Reader

Palm Pre Open Source Packages Released

opensource.palm.com

18 pointsdnewcome15 comments

Anyone have any scoop on when the public SDK will be available?

I bought a Palm Pre hoping that it will be available soon.

Palm's official word is: "We’re not announcing the SDK’s public launch date at this time. More information will be provided closer to availability."

That indicates (to me) that they aren't that close to releasing it. If you're going to provide advanced information on availability, that sounds like a month or so to me which makes me think the SDK will be public in August at the soonest.

It makes me (as a fellow Pre user) a little sad and annoyed. It should be pretty simple to make a few nice web apps using the HTML 5 local storage the Pre supports. I guess I can wait.

Hmmm...they modified netcat? I wonder why? Will have to take a look later.

They didn't modify netcat, apparently. There's no patch on the right. The left column is just original source tarballs, probably for convenience/versioning/archiving purposes.

hmm... is that correct?

releasing only the modified 'libraries' would be sufficient under LGPL, but since they are using GPL software wouldn't palm have to release the whole project?

http://mjg59.livejournal.com/111453.html

from the post: "instead Palm have included a written offer to supply the source code on request. This satisfies the GPL"

does just a "written offer to supply the source code on request" satisfy the GPL?

i hope not, because that would leave quite some room for abuse to the point where you need to go to court to get the source.

How would this be abused? Ask for the source code, and they are required to give it to you.

well, a company like palm could find numerous ways to not send you the cd in time (delaying strategies). don't you think so?

it could be like calling google trying to reach an engineer from adsense.

-> of course a company could delay sending you the code, which could ultimately force you to go to the court to get it.

has anyone received the cd already?

well, a company like palm could find numerous ways to not send you the cd in time (delaying strategies)

Take them to court if it isn't supplied within a reasonable amount of time and notify the FSF and the SFLC: http://www.softwarefreedom.org/

yeah. i was just interested if palm is really releasing all their code, or if they try to get away with releasing bits.

and, most importantly, if it satisfies the GPL to have a "written offer to supply the source code on request"

Could they just print it out and give that to you?

Yeah, I think so.

Many popular licenses ask for a machine-readable source along with all the extra files (makefiles and so on) required to build the thing in the same configuration as it is distributed in binary form

It is, explicitly said by the FSF: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html

GPLv3: 6. Conveying Non-Source Forms. You may convey a covered work in object code form under the terms of sections 4 and 5, provided that you also convey the machine-readable Corresponding Source under the terms of this License, in one of these ways:

b) Convey the object code in, or embodied in, a physical product (including a physical distribution medium), accompanied by a written offer, valid for at least three years and valid for as long as you offer spare parts or customer support for that product model, to give anyone who possesses the object code either (1) a copy of the Corresponding Source for all the software in the product that is covered by this License, on a durable physical medium customarily used for software interchange, for a price no more than your reasonable cost of physically performing this conveying of source, or (2) access to copy the Corresponding Source from a network server at no charge.

c) Convey individual copies of the object code with a copy of the written offer to provide the Corresponding Source. This alternative is allowed only occasionally and noncommercially, and only if you received the object code with such an offer, in accord with subsection 6b.

GPLv2: 3. You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it, under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:

b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,

c) Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer to distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is allowed only for noncommercial distribution and only if you received the program in object code or executable form with such an offer, in accord with Subsection b above.)

FAQ mentions it: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#RedistributedBinari...

Also, take the quiz to test your knowledge of free software licenses! http://www.gnu.org/cgi-bin/license-quiz.cgi

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