On: Cross-platform Rust Rewrite of the GNU Coreutils

[__david__]

> However, if you package and distribute the Rust coreutils with the GPL test suite, then the users of the package are obliged to either use GPL, MIT, or some other FSF-approved OS license.

I don't think this is right. The programs in question are the test suite, and there's can certainly distribute complete programs licensed under the GPL alongside with programs under even non-free licenses (otherwise Mac OS X couldn't ship).

Since the test suite doesn't link against the individual utilities, it won't affect them, license-wise.

It is well understood that the GPL doesn't cross executable boundaries (again, otherwise Mac OS X is in trouble).

[jnbiche → __david__]

You're absolutely right. I was thinking of AGPL, which does cross network boundaries.

[angersock → jnbiche]

And that's why it's to be avoided like the plague. :(

[steveklabnik → angersock]

Or, that's why to use it instead of the GPL.