llvm dev - Mar 2012 - [LLVMdev] Question about the license of LLVM

Dear LLVM Team.

(this is actually dedicated to commercial IDE's and Compilers using LLVM,
which restrict some open-source or commercial usage)

IDE (with compiler using LLVM) ==> Software (wants to create IDE with
Compiler using LLVM)

Agreements state that:
""
To create any work that is to be distributed, sold, or provided to a product
user that has a primary function of interpreting code using a work created by
[Name Removed].  "Primary function" is defined to mean that the work
is primarily directed to accepting, creating, or manipulating source code as a
primary purpose or critical component of the work.  Works that compile, verify,
or interpret source code as part of a tangential function of the work or as a
feature that assist in the primary function of the software are not prohibited
by this section.
""

The license of LLVM does not state anything about:
- Restrictions (if any) which may not be given by the "using"
company/open-source project.

A restriction given for example in an End-User-License-Agreement for a Compiler
(may be including an IDE) that
it's End Users may not develop or deploy projects that do the same thing.
Meaning that when i use an IDE which has a Compiler using LLVM
lays a restriction that i (as end user of that IDE) may not create an IDE with
compiler using LLVM (for example).

Will there be away so that these restrictions can't be layer upon the
"End User" of that IDE?
If LLVM would have a license stating: "Using LLVM, software restrictions to
the End Users of software that creates software are not allowed in any way"

That would open the world to the end users of products made with LLVM (or using
LLVM) which would bring back open-source projects held back by
these kind of licenses. It would be helpful to have the LLVM license to begin
with opening this so that there is made better use of it's resources.

Thanks in advance!

Kind Regards,
Met vriendelijke groet,
Derk Jochems - SWORT
The Netherlands






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On Thu, Mar 08, 2012 at 09:34:04AM +0100, derk jochems
wrote:
> Will there be away so that these restrictions can't be layer upon the
"End User" of that IDE?
> If LLVM would have a license stating: "Using LLVM, software
restrictions to the End Users of software that creates software are not allowed
in any way"
No. The license is BSD-like and not the GPL. If you want to create
closed source code based on LLVM, you can. Consider Apple's Xcode for
example. On the other hand, if you do create a closed source product
based on LLVM and you don't push changes back upstream, you will have
quite some maintainance overhead. LLVM is quite a fast moving target
after all.

Joerg