Re: resizing file system

[Ryusuke Konishi <ryusuke-sG5X7nlA6pw@public.gmane.org>]

On Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:21:10 +0900, Jiro SEKIBA wrote:
> Hi, 
> 
> Based on the situation I've searched for a few days,
> I conclude that it's better to change license of the nilfs2_fs.h header.
> I'll comment it inline.

OK, I'll post the patch to change the license, and will send it for
the next merge window unless there are objections.

Thanks,
Ryusuke Konishi
 
> At Tue, 28 Sep 2010 01:01:38 +0900 (JST),
> Ryusuke Konishi wrote:
> > 
> > Hi,
> > On Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:59:54 +0900, Jiro SEKIBA wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > > 
> > > At Sat, 18 Sep 2010 01:20:00 +0900 (JST),
> > > Ryusuke Konishi wrote:
> > > > 
> > > > Hi,
> > > > On Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:15:59 +0900, Jiro SEKIBA wrote:
> > > > > Hi,
> > > > > 
> > > > > I think it would be good to have a generic libraries for other user land tools,
> > > > > like parted, for the purpose to modify/tweek file system off line.
> > > > > At least, resize/fsck/mkfs are the generic functionalities that parted
> > > > > can handle.  So it's good if there is a library that can perform
> > > > > those things to avoid implementing same thing all over the place.
> > > > > 
> > > > > One big problem for parted is that parted is GPL3 and libnilfs2 is GPL2 X).
> > > > > Still, contributers of libnilfs2 are countable, so maybe we can get agreements
> > > > > from all contributers to change licence to LGPL2, isn't it?
> > > > 
> > > > Definitely yes.  I think we should migrate the licence of the library
> > > > to LGPL2.
> > > > 
> > > > One practical problem is that some of the source files derive the
> > > > kernel code, and they are licensed under GPLv2.
> > > > 
> > > > For example, nilfs2_fs.h and crc32.c are just such ones.
> > > > 
> > > > Do you think we need replacement for these?
> > > 
> > > We could choose to change the licence as LGPL like mqueue.h (*1).
> > > However, we may be able to think that license of nilfs2_fs.h won't affect
> > > license of user land tools.
> > 
> > > At least, Linus stated that "There's a
> > > clarification that user-space programs that use the standard system call
> > > interfaces aren't considered derived works, ..." (*2). 
> > >
> > > *1) http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=blob_plain;f=include/linux/mqueue.h;hb=HEAD
> > > *2) http://kerneltrap.org/node/1735
> > 
> > "unistd.h" is distributed under LGPL.  So, the above Linus' statement
> > sounds like saying just fundamental charateristics of LGPL.
> 
> I interpreted his statement different way, that using standard interface
> of kernel is using system call or ioctl.  Using those functionality 
> requires including headers for binary compatibility.
> 
> > The point of "nilfs2_fs.h" issue differs from that.  A copy of
> > nilfs2_fs.h is actually included in nilfs-utils, and the nilfs library
> > is depending on the copy.
> > 
> > The "mqueue.h" solution seems to be an approved manner (sigh).
> > 
> > Another solution is extracting requisites from "nilfs2_fs.h" and
> > rewriting them under LGPL for the library and userland programs.
> > 
> > Or, do you know any examples of GPL header file whose library is
> > licensed under LGPL?
> 
> libv4l includes videodev2.h which is GPL, but is released under LGPL.
>  http://freshmeat.net/projects/libv4l
> 
> However, that is the only LGPL library I found  which includes GPL header.
> Other libraries intentionally or unintentionally don't include GPL headers.
> 
> Actually, I realized that some of exported headers of linux kernel are
> not GPL, but like LGPL, BSD, MIT.  Or even no license declaration.
> 
> Here is the diff of the kernel that merely changes license of header
> to avoid the license issues we have been talking.
> http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commitdiff;h=19b3eecc21b65a24b0aae2684ca0c8e1b99ef802
> 
> So non-GPLed header is common way to export linux headers.
> 
> thanks,
> 
> regards
> 
> > > While, crc32.c must be replaced other implementation :(.
> > > I'll search lgpled implementation.
> > 
> > OK, let's replace it with a compatible one if we change the library
> > license to LGPL.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Ryusuke Konishi
> > --
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> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Jiro SEKIBA <jir-hfpbi5WX9J54Eiagz67IpQ@public.gmane.org>
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