From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: from mp2 ([2001:41d0:2:4a6f::]) (using TLSv1.3 with cipher TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 (256/256 bits)) by ms11 with LMTPS id ANYbO/Edq1/OBwAA0tVLHw (envelope-from ) for ; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:10:41 +0000 Received: from aspmx1.migadu.com ([2001:41d0:2:4a6f::]) (using TLSv1.3 with cipher TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 (256/256 bits)) by mp2 with LMTPS id gJvfNvEdq1/jDQAAB5/wlQ (envelope-from ) for ; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:10:41 +0000 Received: from lists.gnu.org (lists.gnu.org [209.51.188.17]) (using TLSv1.2 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by aspmx1.migadu.com (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 6D5B494006E for ; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:10:41 +0000 (UTC) Received: from localhost ([::1]:46884 helo=lists1p.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.90_1) (envelope-from ) id 1kccme-0006mD-DR for larch@yhetil.org; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 18:10:40 -0500 Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:470:142:3::10]:47932) by lists.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS1.2:ECDHE_RSA_AES_256_GCM_SHA384:256) (Exim 4.90_1) (envelope-from ) id 1kccm4-0006lH-P1 for guix-patches@gnu.org; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 18:10:04 -0500 Received: from debbugs.gnu.org ([209.51.188.43]:56107) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS1.2:ECDHE_RSA_AES_128_GCM_SHA256:128) (Exim 4.90_1) (envelope-from ) id 1kccm2-0002j5-Q2 for guix-patches@gnu.org; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 18:10:04 -0500 Received: from Debian-debbugs by debbugs.gnu.org with local (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1kccm2-0002yE-J8 for guix-patches@gnu.org; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 18:10:02 -0500 X-Loop: help-debbugs@gnu.org Subject: [bug#44557] [PATCH] gnu: Add gputils. Resent-From: Simon South Original-Sender: "Debbugs-submit" Resent-CC: guix-patches@gnu.org Resent-Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:10:02 +0000 Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: help-debbugs@gnu.org X-GNU-PR-Message: followup 44557 X-GNU-PR-Package: guix-patches X-GNU-PR-Keywords: patch To: 44557@debbugs.gnu.org Cc: Ekaitz Zarraga Received: via spool by 44557-submit@debbugs.gnu.org id=B44557.160504974911340 (code B ref 44557); Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:10:02 +0000 Received: (at 44557) by debbugs.gnu.org; 10 Nov 2020 23:09:09 +0000 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:39420 helo=debbugs.gnu.org) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1kcclA-0002wp-TU for submit@debbugs.gnu.org; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 18:09:09 -0500 Received: from mailout.easymail.ca ([64.68.200.34]:49366) by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2) (envelope-from ) id 1kccl9-0002wL-5v for 44557@debbugs.gnu.org; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 18:09:07 -0500 Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mailout.easymail.ca (Postfix) with ESMTP id 8DB1FA000F; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:09:01 +0000 (UTC) X-Virus-Scanned: Debian amavisd-new at emo05-pco.easydns.vpn Received: from mailout.easymail.ca ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (emo05-pco.easydns.vpn [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id 7ca8ILcAebJ9; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:09:01 +0000 (UTC) Received: from laptop (unknown [108.162.141.195]) (using TLSv1.2 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by mailout.easymail.ca (Postfix) with ESMTPSA id AFE09A592E; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:08:59 +0000 (UTC) From: Simon South References: Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2020 18:04:06 -0500 In-Reply-To: (Ekaitz Zarraga's message of "Tue, 10 Nov 2020 20:23:13 +0000") Message-ID: <87eel0hl09.fsf@simonsouth.net> User-Agent: Gnus/5.13 (Gnus v5.13) Emacs/26.3 (gnu/linux) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain X-Spam-Score: -2.3 (--) X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit@debbugs.gnu.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18 Precedence: list X-Spam-Score: -3.3 (---) X-BeenThere: guix-patches@gnu.org List-Id: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: guix-patches-bounces+larch=yhetil.org@gnu.org Sender: "Guix-patches" X-Scanner: ns3122888.ip-94-23-21.eu Authentication-Results: aspmx1.migadu.com; dkim=none; dmarc=none; spf=pass (aspmx1.migadu.com: domain of guix-patches-bounces@gnu.org designates 209.51.188.17 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom=guix-patches-bounces@gnu.org X-Spam-Score: 0.49 X-TUID: S4GPSO9eYaEW Ekaitz Zarraga writes: > I packaged GPUtils... I hate to jump in here with bad news, but I didn't expect anyone would package gputils before I got around to sharing this: While gputils itself is free software, I suspect some of the header files contained in its distribution may not be, which makes the licensing status of the project as a whole somewhat dubious. (This is similar to the problem that affects SDCC[0].) I think gputils should be reviewed carefully before the decision is made to include it in Guix. As evidence, I submit the following: - The "*.inc" files in gputils' "header" subfolder that are intended for use with PIC devices carry a copyright notice from Microchip[1], the current owner of the PIC design, but I have found no mention of any special terms for the files' distribution, nor any notice that they too have been released under the terms of the GPL. - SDCC, a free C compiler for microcontrollers, distributes header files of its own that are also derived from files originally provided by Microchip. When they approached the company[2] in 2010 to verify they had permission to distribute their derivative versions under the GPL, Microchip responded[3] to say the files could be distributed but with the requirement they be used only with "authentic" PIC-compatible controllers produced by Microchip themselves. This violates freedom 0[4], making the files non-free and (worse) any software compiled with SDCC that relies on these files non-free as well. Consequently, the SDCC project moved these files to a "non-free" section of their source tree and added build and run-time options to control their use. Now here's where things get a little murky: - The Microchip-copyrighted files from which the SDCC project derives their non-free header files are... the same Microchip-copyrighted files gputils provides in its "header" folder. This is clear from the SDCC manual[5] in section 4.7.10, "Adding New Devices to the Port", which gives instructions on converting gputils' supposedly free "*.inc" files into "non-free" header files for use with SDCC. How is it, then, that these files can be distributed freely under the GPL with gputils, while files produced from them cannot be freely distributed with SDCC? I suspect the answer is that _neither_ project has permission to distribute these files under a free license, and in the case of gputils, no one has raised the question yet. Obviously I feel we _should_ raise the question before deciding to include gputils as a package in Guix. Unfortunately, it is looking to me as though there may not be a place for PIC-compatible controllers, Microchip-branded or otherwise, in the free-software world. [0] https://issues.guix.gnu.org/44374 [1] See e.g. https://sourceforge.net/p/gputils/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/gputils/header/p10f200.inc [2] https://sourceforge.net/p/sdcc/mailman/sdcc-devel/thread/4C508624.8000308%40siol.net/#msg25835011 [3] https://sourceforge.net/p/sdcc/mailman/sdcc-devel/thread/1DB7F50D3A07E6439E44C13B1A4470520D09F306%40CHN-CL-MAIL01.mchp-main.com/ [4] https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html [5] http://sdcc.sourceforge.net/doc/sdccman.pdf -- Simon South simon@simonsouth.net