5 ms·

> Is it deliberately gimped Yes. It's deliberately gimped because the author of the function decided Freedom™ is more important than functionality and so they

by _pghu 12y ago

> Is it deliberately gimped Yes. It's deliberately gimped because the author of the function decided Freedom™ is more important than functionality and so they hid it behind a license check. Most new symbols exported after its introduction are exported with the GPL check. See this for more info: http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0110.2/0369.html http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0110.2/0369.html

lawl 12y ago
> Yes. It's deliberately gimped because the author of the function decided Freedom™ is more important than functionality and so they hid it behind a license check. Would have been a good comment without that remark, and almost certainly why you got downvoted. I gave you an upvote anyways, because the link is actually relevant and helpful.
- Dylan16807 12y ago
  I think that remark makes the comment better. It's ridiculous to claim that a simple timer has relevance to creating a derivative work, and the implication of zealotry in anyone making that claim via EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL is appropriate.
  - pmjordan 12y ago
    The whole reason this is even an issue is the ambiguity of the license on the subject of dynamic linking and what precisely constitutes a derived work. Of course, if Linus wanted proprietary kernel extensions, he should have picked LGPL, but the issue arose long after the license was originally picked (and there being any possibility of changing/clarifying it). Also, no "or any higher version" clause, so the only way this is ever going to be resolved one way or another is in court. FWIW, my impression is GPLv3 wouldn't have helped here either.
woah 12y ago
If you don't like it, write your own. It's that simple.
awalton 12y ago
Whether or not it has _GPL is completely irrelevant. The question is "does my modification to the kernel make a derivative work?" The _GPL defines are there to warn developers "Yes, using this function means you're probably doing something derivative." In short, Oracle knew what they were doing, knew it was wrong, and are doing it anyways. Now it just comes down to the lawyers arguing whether DTrace becomes a derivative work or not, when and if someone files suit against them for not being able to use DTrace on TheirLinux.

by _pghu 12y ago

lawl 12y ago

> Yes. It's deliberately gimped because the author of the function decided Freedom™ is more important than functionality and so they hid it behind a license check. Would have been a good comment without that remark, and almost certainly why you got downvoted. I gave you an upvote anyways, because the link is actually relevant and helpful.

Dylan16807 12y ago
I think that remark makes the comment better. It's ridiculous to claim that a simple timer has relevance to creating a derivative work, and the implication of zealotry in anyone making that claim via EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL is appropriate.
- pmjordan 12y ago
  The whole reason this is even an issue is the ambiguity of the license on the subject of dynamic linking and what precisely constitutes a derived work. Of course, if Linus wanted proprietary kernel extensions, he should have picked LGPL, but the issue arose long after the license was originally picked (and there being any possibility of changing/clarifying it). Also, no "or any higher version" clause, so the only way this is ever going to be resolved one way or another is in court. FWIW, my impression is GPLv3 wouldn't have helped here either.

woah 12y ago

If you don't like it, write your own. It's that simple.

awalton 12y ago

Whether or not it has _GPL is completely irrelevant. The question is "does my modification to the kernel make a derivative work?" The _GPL defines are there to warn developers "Yes, using this function means you're probably doing something derivative." In short, Oracle knew what they were doing, knew it was wrong, and are doing it anyways. Now it just comes down to the lawyers arguing whether DTrace becomes a derivative work or not, when and if someone files suit against them for not being able to use DTrace on TheirLinux.