Re: [libvirt] [PATCH] show compiled in options in virsh --version

[Bruno Haible]

Hi Eric,

> >>>          case 'v':
> >>> -            /* FIXME - list a copyright blurb, as in GNU programs?  */
> >>> -            puts(VERSION);
> >>> +            vshShowVersion(ctl);
> >>>              exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
> 
> The gnulib module closeout can automatically take care of this, but it
> is currently licensed as GPL.  Jim, Bruno, are you okay with relicensing
> closeout and close-stream as LGPLv2+?

In gnulib we have a rule of thumb which says that anything that calls exit()
or xmalloc() is likely to end up only in executables, not in libraries, and
code in executables can just as well be relicensed under GPL instead of LGPL.

In the libiconv and gettext packages, for example, the executables are all
under GPL, although other parts of the package are under LGPL. Have you
(and the management and lawyers behind libvirt) considered this approach for
libvirt?

I ask because 'closeout' may be only the beginning. Then comes 'xalloc',
'quotearg', and 'avltree-list', and at the end these high-value modules could
be used by proprietary programs (assuming appropriate LGPL compliant packaging).
We need a borderline between what can go LGPL and what needs to stay GPL, and
the rule of thumb mentioned above is a good guiding line.

Btw, for the modules 'closeout' and 'close-stream', a look at
  $ gitk lib/closeout.h lib/closeout.c lib/close-stream.h lib/close-stream.c
reveals that you have to ask also Paul, not only Jim and me.

Bruno