Re: [LAD] Fwd: Fw: Re: At the hands of Professor Keller and Raymond

On Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 09:33:19AM -0700, Robert Keller wrote: If you have the full GPL text in a text file (normally 'COPYING') and the GPL 'declaration' in all source files, and the sources when compiled produce the binary and everything it requires, then as far as I know you are compliant. No doubt _someone_ will correct me if necessary. Your project may need some other changes (not GPL related) to be in line with usual source code distribution practices, for example I'd terribly dislike a compilation script or tool that also launches the application when ready. Normally (but this is C/C++ practice, and may be different for Java) there are at least three steps after the sources have been unpacked : - configure : this checks is everything required is present, may offer compile-time options, and create additional source files that adapt the code to the system or platform. Java will probably require less of the latter. - make : compile and link (or the equivalent) the application. - install : move the binaries and any other required resources to one of the standard places. After the install step running the program must not depend on anything in the source tree, which then can be removed. The install step may or may not include steps to create a desktop icon, include the app in some desktop menu, etc., but at least on Linux is not required to do this. There is a wide range of desktops being used on Linux machines, and people who compile things from source usually know what to do on their system. In this sense things are easier for Linux than for e.g. OSX. I'm a complete Java nitwit, someone knowing more about it should be able to provide better advice. Anyway, I'd advise to distribute the binary from the same place as the sources. You are required to keep them in step, so it could actually be easier that way. Ciao, -- FA Io lo dico sempre: l'Italia è troppo stretta e lunga.