Re: [Dev-C++] Where are gcc compiler and binutils sources?

[Danny S. <dan...@cl...>]

From: "Per Westermark" >
Sent: Friday, 22 July 2005 21:19


> If the MinGW compiler is a binary release directly from MinGW, then you
> should look at www.mingw.org for sources. It is only if the compiler has
> modified source that the supplier of the modified compiler must be ready
> to supply the changed source too.

That is incorrect.  Please refer to:

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html

and in particular the section on distributing binaries from one site and sources
from someone else's.

If mingw.org has given Dev-C++ project a written offer to provide sources on
request (as per section 3.b of the GPL), then redistribution of binaries could
just include that written offer.  But, AFAIK, that is not the case.

Ii is unfortunate that many windows users misunderstand the benefits and the
obligations of GPL'd software.
It would be sad if Dev-C++ promulgated that misunderstanding by an example that
says,"Dev-C++ doesn;t have to distribute sources of redistributed binaries, so I
don't either"

In any case, probably the best party to ask about this would be the copyright
holder (FSF)  Their contact address is on the FAQ page cited earlier.

> Since I normally don't install MinGW togeter with Dev-C++ but download and
> install it separately, I can't say if Dev-C++ is distributed with a
> modified compiler.

Someone should say.    Otherwise, when someone reports a problem with gcc or
binutils to mingw org and says they are using Dev-C++, it is difficult to know
where to
look for the problem.

Danny

/Per W