From: Daniel Carrera <dcarrera@...>
Date: 2003-07-11T12:05:45+09:00
Subject: Re: My brief and torrid affair with Ruby.

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On Fri, Jul 11, 2003 at 11:47:56AM +0900, Samuel Tesla wrote:

> Your distinction is subtle, it is certainly an alternative, but it is
> not a situation that would likely arise.  If I were (practically) able
> to remove the code, then why would I put it there in the first place?

Fair enough.  But the fact that the alternatives are not appealing to you 
does not make the GPL viral.

This is the way I see it:  Suppose I'm going to choose a mutual fund.  I 
have 10 choices, and 9 are bad.  This does not make the 10th viral.  Even 
if the other 9 are bad enough, and I want a mutual fund badly enough that 
I really really have to chose the 10th and if I don't choose the 10th I'll 
lose all my money... that still doesn't make the 10th viral.


> > were not familiar with the content of the GPL.  Please avoid personal 
> > offence since it does nothing to prove your point, and it does a lot to 
> > triger flame wars.
> 
> Sorry about that.

No problem.

> > I am arguing that this ability makes a big difference.
> 
> And I'm arguing that it really doesn't.

Okay, at least we've settled what my position is, and what your position 
is.

I doubt that we'll agree beyond this point, but at least we are clear on 
what our positions are.  I'll try to rephrase:

Situation:
  You want certain functionality which is available through a GPL code, 
  and for which there is no reasonable alternative available to you.
  Your choices are to either GPL your code, or forget about writing that
  particular application.

Question:  Does this make the GPL viral?

You say:  Yes.
I say :   No.

I might agree that this makes the GPL anoying, upsetting and undesirable.
I also agree that this puts pressure on you to choose to GPL your code.

But since the GPL does not, by itself, do anything to you, it is not 
viral.  The fact that you don't like the alternatives (e.g. not write your 
application) does not make it viral.

You disagree.

Have I successfully summarized your position?

My view is that a virus does not "encourage" you to accept it into your 
cells.  It just attaches itself to you.  This is in contrast with the GPL.


- -- 
Daniel Carrera         | OpenPGP fingerprint:
Graduate TA, Math Dept | 6643 8C8B 3522 66CB D16C D779 2FDD 7DAC 9AF7 7A88
UMD  (301) 405-5137    | http://www.math.umd.edu/~dcarrera/pgp.html
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