License question
lazarus / 8-Other

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Alex Cones · 2010-07-13 08:43

Good day for all!

I am a little confused with the licenses. GNU GPL exactly. Can I sell
programs, that were written and compiled in FPC ?

P.S. Written by me and without another modules. None of my modules be
published.

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Laksen · 2010-07-13 09:04

Most software of the Lazarus and Freepascal project are licensed under
a modified LGPL license that permits you to sell programs without
supplying the source for the program itself. There are a few things
you must do, such as distributing the LGPL license with your product,
tell where people can get the code for the runtime library, and
eventual changes you've made to it

The tools themselves, the IDE and the compiler, are however under GPL.
But as long as you don't use code from there, you should be fine

It's explained here
http://www.freepascal.org/faq.var#general-license

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Alex Cones · 2010-07-13 09:11

Sorry, but what runtime libraries refers in the article?

If detail, my project are fully API, and use only "Windows" module.

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OpenLieroXor · 2010-07-13 09:35

All units in FCL library (supplied by Freepascal) and LCL (supplied by
Lazarus) are licensed under LGPL. "Windows" unit too. That means that
you can use it with your application regardless of your app license,
it can be closed-source. However, if you make any changes in LGPL-ed
code, you have to publish these changes. The IDE and compiler are
licensed under normal GPL, but this license doesn't affect on programs
that you created with them. You still decide about your own app
license, so you can sell it under proprietary, closed-source license.

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Alex Cones · 2010-07-13 09:47

Thank you for explanation.
QuoteThe IDE and compiler are licensed under normal GPL, but this
license doesn't affect on programs that you created with themI think,
that GIMP and graphics, that I create with them are similar situation.
As a result I can sell my program, but in MY license I must declare,
that I used a LGPL parts?

And last question: if I cut "Windows" module from my project it will
change something?

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Laksen · 2010-07-13 09:57

Quote from: Alex Cones on July 13, 2010, 11:47:28 amAs a result I can
sell my program, but in MY license I must declare, that I used a LGPL
parts?
Yes, and which and where they can be found  As I interpret it, it
should be enough to declare that you use the common FreePascal RTL
which can be found at freepascal.org - I am no lawyer though

QuoteAnd last question: if I cut "Windows" module from my project it
will change something?
No, you still use the RTL under the hood

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Alex Cones · 2010-07-13 10:03

Big thanx! I very grateful.