Re: [h-e-w] Problem with fresh emacsw32 install

[Lennart Borgman (gmail)]

Rex Dieter wrote:
> Lennart Borgman (gmail) wrote:
> > I think the most userfriendly way to handle this is a special page saying where 
> > the sources are. ...
> > IMHO it is a weakness in the GPL not requiring this. (If I am wrong then please point me to the exact part of the GPL that requires this.) 
>
> There's lots of info on that in the GPL FAQ, but this seems to be most
> relavent:
> http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCSourceAndBinaryOnDifferentSites


Yes, that is also what I found. Since in my case the sources are on the 
same site I believe it is ok.


> > BTW there is a much, much bigger defiency in the GPL in that it does not
> > require that working instructions for compiling the sources should
> > distributed with the sources (or at least a link to such instructions).
>
> GPL says the scripts, etc... used to generate the binaries is considered
> part of the "source" requirements, which kinda-sorta handles that case:
>
> "...The source code for a work means the preferred form of the work for
> making modifications to it. For an executable work, complete source code
> means all the source code for all modules it contains, plus any
> associated interface definition files, plus the scripts used to control
> compilation and installation of the executable. "


Thanks, that is interesting. I had not seen that part.

It has been bothering me for a long time. In the case of Emacs this part 
is covered well I think (and I have added some scripts on my site to 
build from CVS). However for the other tools it is less obvious that 
this part of the GPL is followed.

I do not want to point to some weaknesses, because I know there is a lot 
of personal effort and good will layed down. But it would in my opinion 
be good if this part were stressed more explicitly in the GPL (or in the 
FAQ perhaps). IMO there should be scripts covering the build process as 
far as possible and clearly written instructions to cover the missing 
parts. (Like where to download additional needed tools etc.)