RealBasic pulls MySQL support

[Björnke von Gierke]

> Apparently RealBasic will no longer support MySQL as a database option
> except through external ODBC drivers. It seems that their plugin was
> developed under a GPL license.
>
> http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/development/index.html

I prefer BSD type licenses, but basically, the GPL disallows people  
from taking the code, change it slightly, then patent it. In regards to  
mySQL externals that contain GPL'ed code, they need to release the  
external under the GPL as it counts as derivative work. However, using  
said external in a closed source project is not prohibited.

On the other hand, if the code of RealBasic and the GPL mySQL external  
share one data space, they're considered as one program. Of course,  
only the people that made the external interact with RealBasic can  
really answer that.

Excerpt from the GPL 2 regarding non derivative, independent code:
"
These requirements apply to the modified work as a whole. If  
identifiable sections of that work are not derived from the Program,  
and can be reasonably considered independent and separate works in  
themselves, then this License, and its terms, do not apply to those  
sections when you distribute them as separate works.
" Source: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html

 From the GPL2 FAQ:
"
Can I release a non-free program that's designed to load a GPL-covered  
plug-in?

It depends on how the program invokes its plug-ins. If the program uses  
fork and exec to invoke plug-ins, then the plug-ins are separate  
programs, so the license of the plug-in makes no requirements about the  
main program.
If the program dynamically links plug-ins, and they make function calls  
to each other and share data structures, we believe they form a single  
program, which must be treated as an extension of both the main program  
and the plug-ins.
" Source:  
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0- 
faq.html#NFUseGPLPlugins

Have fun
Bjoernke

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