Re: Adding the D programming language

[Andrew Haley <aph at redhat dot com>]

Romain Failliot writes:
 > 2005/11/13, Florian Weimer <fw@deneb.enyo.de>:
 > > There is a GCC front end, but it has zero chance of being integrated
 > > into FSF GCC at this stage.  The run-time library license contains
 > > this little gem:
 > >
 > >  *              (ii) Any derived versions of this software (howsoever modified)
 > >  *              remain the sole property of Synesis Software.
 > >
 > 
 > I asked to the author of the GDC project. He says that GDC is under
 > GPL license If the run-time library are indeed not GPL, can't we
 > (the community) create one that will be under it?

Of course, but there has to be some work done by someone who wants it.
That's how free software works: scratch your own itch.

The procedure for donating to the gcc project is quite
well-established.  

The submitter has to get all the paperwork done, making very sure that
all authors have signed copyright assignment papers.  

Then there is a period of technical review where the gcc maintainers
consider whether the front-end is of sufficient quality to be
included.  

There is also the question of maintenance: gcc front-ends have been
deleted because there were not enough people willing to maintain them.
We will not accept new front-ends if we're not convinced that they
will be maintained.

Finally, gcc maintainers have to be convinced that people will use it.
The presence of another front-end has associated costs for all of the
gcc maintainers.

Andrew.