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Re: -fdump-translation-unit considered harmful
Stefan Strasser wrote:
the problem some people may see isn't some technical way to link to gcc
while circumventing the GPL. if this isn't covered by GPL by law an
interface in gcc is the smallest problem of free software in general.
it is that you could easily export the data from the interface to a file
and e.g. write a proprietary backend which only needs the file. this
isn't covered by the GPL
This is a legal judgmnent that is dubious. The mere fact of using a file
is not clearly a factor here. The issue is whether the programs form
some kind of unit which is not "mere aggregation". In Intergraph vs
Bentley, where a similar issue arose, I tried to establish the idea that
if you have a program which is only useable in conjunction with another
program, that they form a unit. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately,
who knows), the case settled the day before the judge issued a ruling.
(compare loading an image by gimp into your
proprierty app).
I don't know if a jury would find this comparable or not. These are
not simple issues.
but I think this shouldn't be a reason to make gcc less useful for free
software.
Especially when it is based on legally dubious GPL reasoning :-)