"GNU" and Ada

[Florian Weimer]

dewar@gnat.com writes:

> <<We could tamper with the GNAT compiler to compile only GNU.* packages
> which have got the appropriate license text at the beginning, or a
> start.
>>>
>
> Note incidentally that the GNAT compiler does have circuitry built in that
> warns you if the compiler detects a suspicious license violation (e.g. the
> inclusion of GPL'ed code with modified-GPL code in the same partition).

Ah, yes!  I remember now noticing this feature in the documentation.

Proprietary software vendors include Digital Rights Management in
audio and video players, we include it in compilers (and in the
kernel).  Fortunately, a license violation results only in a warning,
so no compiler option is necessary to override the DRM checks if you
do some experiments (without planning to distribute).  Otherwise, we
would have a compiler option whose use is in violation of the DMCA. ;-)

Indeed, we could use such a facility to enforce the correct use of
GNU.*, with a proper signal phrase in the header which cannot be used
without consent of the FSF.