Re: [Mingw-msys] MSYS licensing and not linking MSYS

[Keith M. <kei...@to...>]

Leif W wrote:
> Hmm, what if MSYS is just being used to run a shell to run tools
> which  build the app?  It's how I interpreted the question, but
> the other two are valid scenarios as well.  If it's just being
> used as a tool, and it does not link against msys-1.0.dll, and
> not including any GPL headers then no GPL required?

That scenario is documented in the FSF's GPL FAQ.  In this case
MSYS isn't part of the application being run -- it's a completely
independent application suite, which just happens to provide a
convenient environment, in which to run your application.

Since the two are independent, the licensing terms of neither
affects the other; you can even bundle the two, on the same
distribution media, without incurring any cross licensing issue.
It's only if you make MSYS an integral part of your application,
by linking against msys-1.0.dll, that you become bound by the GPL
licensing of MSYS, and therefore must GPL your own application.

That, at least, is how I interpret the GNU documentation on the
subject, but IANAL.

Cheers,
Keith.