Re: Re; Re; Windows

[Jaroslav Hajek]

On Mon, May 11, 2009 at 6:59 AM, dmelliott <address@hidden> wrote:
>
>
> Dear Jaroslav Hajek,
>
>    All the binaries you have ever installed into a Windows OS.

... go on ... example? Remember that Octave is GPL and written in C++.
That surely does not apply to "all the binaries" I ever installed into
Windows (last time, that was IE7 installed on someone else's
computer). Off my head I can't think of a Windows-enabled GPL software
written in C++.

> Another
> obfuscation "I didn't follow the discussion too close, but the impression I
> got is that the legal argument for why we cannot distribute the binary is
> somewhat technical ... ".
>
>    Obviously there is absolutely nothing wrong with distributing binaries
> for the WinOS, per se, or an entire economy would be crashing down.
>
>    There is all sorts of freeware out there, that installs just fine.  The
> only hitch I can see, if appropriate disclaimers are given, is using a
> propriatary installer program without proper permission.
>

Are you sure you understand the fundamental difference between
freeware and free software (GPL'd in particular)?

>
>    Bad economic times promote interest in and a true need for freeware, and
> if there was ever a time in which you could fulfill your goal:
>

Octave is not a freeware.

> " ... we knew that we wanted to create something that would enable students
> to solve realistic problems, and that they could use for many things other
> than chemical reactor design problems. Today, thousands of people worldwide
> are using Octave in teaching, research, and commercial applications.
>
> Copyright © 1998-2006 John W. Eaton. Verbatim copying and distribution is
> permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.
> University of Wisconsin
> Department of Chemical Engineering
> Madison WI 53719"
>
> it is now.
>
>                                                                    dmelliott



-- 
RNDr. Jaroslav Hajek
computing expert & GNU Octave developer
Aeronautical Research and Test Institute (VZLU)
Prague, Czech Republic
url: www.highegg.matfyz.cz