[U-Boot] U-Boot "public API" example desired

[James E. Chargin Jr. <jimc@sdateam.com>]

This is a reposted and slightly reformatted version of a previous post, 
please see http://lists.denx.de/pipermail/u-boot/2010-May/071243.html. I 
did not receive a response to my previous post, so I am trying again.

 >Dear jimc at sdateam.com,
 >
 >In message <8139.1273161587@sdateam.com> you wrote:
 >>
 >>  Is there an example available of the use of the U-Boot "public API"
 >> or of a "stand-alone application", that can be, or is, sanctioned by
 >> someone who would definitely know (for example, Wolfgang Denk) as
 >> being not a derived work?
 >
 >The code in the examples/standalone/ is supposed to provide example
 >code, and doc/README.standalone is supposed to provide documentation.

I appreciate the answer, I think this topic has been discussed several 
times, so thanks for spending time re-visiting it once again.

I have looked at both the examples/standalone code and the
README.standalone.

 >>  I've seen several discussions in various mailing lists about these
 >> interfaces but I have not seen a definite example that qualifies. It
 >
 >What are these "various mailing lists", and what exactluy is not clear
 >to you?

I have also seen
1) 
http://old.nabble.com/-U-Boot--How-to-get-GPL-free-standalone-programs-with-u-boot-td27182861.html
2) http://lists.denx.de/pipermail/u-boot/2009-August/058650.html
3) http://osdir.com/ml/boot-loaders.u-boot/2003-11/msg00072.html
4) http://osdir.com/ml/freebsd.embedded/2008-01/msg00019.html
5) 
http://old.nabble.com/Re%3A--U-Boot--How-to-get-GPL-free-standalone-programs-with-u-boot-p27338654.html

Some of these are forums, rather that mailing lists, I apologize for
not being specific in my previous message.

 >Best regards,
 >
 >Wolfgang Denk

The part that is not clear to me is if a conclusion has ever been 
reached as to the availability of a set of GPL-free headers that can be 
included in a stand-alone application. I think the GPL is quite 
valuable, but there are situations involving closed-source software 
where GPL licensed source files must be avoided (I'm sure this is news 
to nobody). Has such a set of GPL-free headers been developed, or must I 
develop them myself if I want to use them?

In 5) above, you write
  >In message  you wrote:
  >>
  >> I have a question concerning standalone programs based on u-boot and
  >> GPL, since I'm not really sure whether the way how the u-boot source
  >> files are set up allows GPL free standalone programs.
  >
  >This is the intention; if the current code or documentation should
  >conflict with this intention, it should be fixed.

and

  >"exports.h" should be added to the "allowed" file list; there should
  >be no need to include "common.h". Eventually this needs fixing.
  >Patches are welcome.

In the latest U-Boot sources, this issue seems to still exist; headers 
available for inclusion in stand-alone application seem to include the 
GPL license language. I can't find equivalent headers that are 
"GPL-free", but maybe I am looking in the wrong place.

This last comment includes mention of the "allowed" file list; I can't 
locate anything of this nature either.

Again, thank you for your time and best regards,
Jim
-- 
James E. Chargin Jr.
Sierra Design Associates            (530) 478-6689
117 New Mohawk Rd, Suite H          jimc at sdateam.com [13]
Nevada City, CA 95959  USA          http:\www.sdateam.com [14]