[NEWS] The return of the GPL Linking Exception

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[NEWS] The return of the GPL Linking Exception

Postby Giovanni » Fri Dec 08, 2017 10:40 am

Hi,

ChibiOS is again available under GPL3 with Linking Exception. This version allows you to link your proprietary code to ChibiOS without having to distribute your source code. All other GPL3 clauses still apply.

The added exception text is:

Code: Select all

                             GPL Exception Text

  In addition, as a special exception, the copyright holder of ChibiOS,
gives You the additional right to link the unmodified code of this Program with
code not covered under the GNU General Public License ("Non-GPL Code") and to
distribute linked combinations including the two, subject to the limitations
in this paragraph.

   1. Non-GPL Code permitted under this exception must only link to the
      unmodified code of this Program through those well defined interfaces
      identified as "Approved Interfaces".
   2. Every copy of the combined work is accompanied by a written statement
      that details to the recipient the version of ChibiOS used and an
      offer by yourself to provide the ChibiOS source code should the
      recipient request it.
   3. The combined work is not itself an RTOS, scheduler, kernel or related
      product.
   4. The combined work is not itself a binary library intended for linking
      into other software applications.

                           The Approved Interfaces

   1. The Non-GPL code may call or use all functions or macros marked as @api,
      @iclass. @sclass, @init in the Doxygen documentation headers.
   2. The files of Non-GPL Code may include the unmodified ChibiOS
      distribution header files licensed under GPL with this exception
      without causing the resulting work to be covered by the GNU General
      Public License.
   3. The files of Non-GPL Code may link to the unmodified ChibiOS
      distribution source files licensed under GPL with this exception
      without causing the resulting work to be covered by the GNU General
      Public License.

  Only the copyright holder of ChibiOS may make changes or additions to the
list of Approved Interfaces.

  You must obey the GNU General Public License in all respects for all of the
Program code and other code used in conjunction with the Program except the
Non-GPL Code covered by this exception.


This has been added to favor those potential users that do not want to register in order to obtain a "free commercial" license (which is still available).

Suggestions?

Giovanni

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Re: [NEWS] The return of the GPL Linking Exception

Postby tecnologic » Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:20 am

Hi Giovanni,

this is great news. I love chibios for my hobby projects, but before i could not use it at work and had to sick with the crappy cubeMX.
The free commercial was no option for us cause this is only for small special devices in a big machine, and naming chibios for this was not possible.
But now i can keep my efforts low to get those devices running with closed source and chibios. This saves a lot of time, for only 3 to 10 sepecial devices.

is there any volume limit on the license? Due to our products i suppose i will not reach them but better to know them.

regards

Tec

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Re: [NEWS] The return of the GPL Linking Exception

Postby Giovanni » Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:31 am

Hi,

It is unlimited in deployment but limited in features available, it offers only a basic set, enough to have the full HAL running anyway.

Giovanni

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Re: [NEWS] The return of the GPL Linking Exception

Postby tecnologic » Tue Dec 12, 2017 12:15 pm

Hi Giovanni,

more i dont need. I need os only for USB_CDC cause osless was not working for me.

regards

Tec

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Re: [NEWS] The return of the GPL Linking Exception

Postby StephenG » Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:48 am

Thanks Giovanni, that's very useful for some of the tiny projects we do.

Is there some documentation of what features are not present or the specific limitations in this version?

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Re: [NEWS] The return of the GPL Linking Exception

Postby Giovanni » Wed Jan 03, 2018 8:59 am

Hi,

Look at the file chchecks.h in /os/rt/include

Basically, the following options are restricted in RT:
CH_CFG_ST_FREQUENCY > 1000
CH_CFG_ST_TIMEDELTA > 0
CH_CFG_USE_TM
CH_CFG_USE_MUTEXES
CH_CFG_USE_CONDVARS
CH_CFG_USE_DYNAMIC
CH_DBG_STATISTICS
CH_DBG_TRACE_MASK

In NIL:
CH_CFG_ST_FREQUENCY > 1000
CH_CFG_ST_TIMEDELTA > 0
CH_CFG_USE_MAILBOXES
CH_CFG_USE_MEMCORE
CH_CFG_USE_MEMPOOLS
CH_CFG_USE_HEAP

The HAL is fully functional.

Giovanni


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