[Info-vax] VAFS, GFS2 and the GPL, was: Re: VSI OpenVMS Roadmap: V9.2 is x86-64 only

[Simon Clubley]

On 2020-10-08, Jan-Erik Söderholm <jan-erik.soderholm at telia.com> wrote:
> Den 2020-10-08 kl. 14:20, skrev Simon Clubley:
>> 
>> Just to let people know: so far, I have not had any reply from VSI.
>> 
>> I asked again yesterday in case the original query had been forgotten
>> about, but I have not heard anything back from that either.
>> 
>> I, for one, would like to know how VSI have achieved this. It could
>> make for quite an interesting discussion.
>> 
>
> I do not understand why you expect that VSI would reply to you about this.

Because based on their own roadmap, what VSI are doing is very unusual.

VSI are talking about integrating code that appears to be pure GPL V2
(without any apparent linking or other exceptions) directly into the
core of VMS (which is not licenced using a GPL V2 compatible licence).

This is so unusual that I consider it reasonable to ask VSI how they
have managed to do this and for them to explain how they have managed
to integrate what is apparently pure GPL V2 code directly into VMS
while still keeping to the requirements of the GPL licence.

Note that my working assumption is that VSI _have_ found some way to
do this that they believe still complies with the GPL.

However, given how unusual this is, I still believe that VSI should
explain how they have done this so that people can make sure there
isn't an aspect to this that VSI might have missed.

Is anyone else here interested in knowing how VSI have managed to
integrate the GFS2 code into VMS ?

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Walking destinations on a map are further away than they appear.