Rant on my favourite topics : LC server with a side-dish of on-rev :-)

Alex Tweedly alex at tweedly.net
Mon Nov 20 18:34:56 EST 2017 

Matthias said (quoting the LC FAQs):

> Another difference is you do not require your code be distributed under GPL.
> But with community version of LcServer you have to do so "in case your server code is an integral part of making your LC based software work".
But that (as far as I can see) is said in the context of an app which is 
dependent on the server code - i.e. the server code is effectively part 
of the app. So it would not apply to the great majority of LC Server 
code, which simply implements a web site accessed via a browser.

And why would it ?  GPL is a *distributive* license - it affects 
code/programs that are distributed (or copied, or conveyed). I can (and 
do) write code for my own use on my own machines using the Community 
version - and there is no requirement for me to make that code available 
to anyone else. Code written for a web site, but not distributed, is 
similarly free from any need to make it available to others (unless they 
also get involved in "being an essential part of an app", or similar 
extended involvement).

I haven't seen any statement that *all* code using Community Server 
falls under GPL (and I think I've read all the LC question/answers) but 
if there is such a statement on the LC site, I'd be grateful for a 
pointer to it. (And since I have a commercial lic. anyway, I guess I'll 
get the commercial version installed on all my sites just in case).

Alex.

P.S. I'm not convinced by the original claim either. To me, "integral 
part" cannot be implied by use of a web api. If it can, I look forward 
to writing an app with the Community version that uses Google's maps api 
- and the subsequent claim that Google's code is all subject to GPL :-)


On 20/11/2017 16:53, Matthias Rebbe via use-livecode wrote:
> Rick,
>
> the commercial version of LcServer supports encryption, the use of password protected stacks and you can use the tsNet external with it, but you have to install these externals manually, because the build process currently doesn´t include them into to builds.
> Another difference is you do not require your code be distributed under GPL.
> But with community version of LcServer you have to do so "in case your server code is an integral part of making your LC based software work".
> See LiveCode open source questions at https://livecode.com/resources/support/ask-a-question/ <https://livecode.com/resources/support/ask-a-question/>
>
> Maybe there are also other differences, but the above are the ones i know.
>
> Matthias
>
>> Am 20.11.2017 um 17:36 schrieb Rick Harrison via use-livecode <use-livecode at lists.runrev.com <mailto:use-livecode at lists.runrev.com>>:
>>
>> Hi Ralph,
>>
>> It looks to me that they did it this way
>> because there isn’t any automatic
>> way to check for a valid license
>> the same way as the paid version
>> of LiveCode works. As you say, the
>> commercial version of LC server
>> lacks the GUI which would make
>> that auto-validation step possible.
>>
>> A list of the differences between
>> the community version and the
>> commercial version would be
>> useful so users can see what if
>> anything they are missing by not
>> having the paid version of LC.
>> (It might be an incentive for those
>> who do not yet have a paid version.)
>>
>> I have to download my new commercial
>> version and install it.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Rick
>>
>>> On Nov 20, 2017, at 10:34 AM, Ralph DiMola via use-livecode <use-livecode at lists.runrev.com <mailto:use-livecode at lists.runrev.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>> There is no license registration for LC server because there is no GUI. You only have the rights to use the commercial server if you have paid version of LC. This way only account holders with the proper license can download the commercial server.
>>>
>>> Ralph DiMola
>>> IT Director
>>> Evergreen Information Services
>>> rdimola at evergreeninfo.net <mailto:rdimola at evergreeninfo.net>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: use-livecode [mailto:use-livecode-bounces at lists.runrev.com] On Behalf Of Rick Harrison via use-livecode
>>> Sent: Monday, November 20, 2017 10:28 AM
>>> To: How to use LiveCode
>>> Cc: Rick Harrison
>>> Subject: Re: Rant on my favourite topics : LC server with a side-dish of on-rev :-)
>>>
>>> Hi Matthias,
>>>
>>> I have been downloading everything from the downloads page for so long that I hardly ever visit my Livecode account page.  Apparently now there is a separate tab just for server which has a password attached.  Why this appears to be the exception to the rule of getting everything from the downloads page is anyone’s guess.
>>>
>>> Is there any difference between the
>>> community version and the commercial
>>> version of server other than the license?
>>> Where would I find a list of those
>>> differences if it exists somewhere?
>>>
>>> Thank you for getting back to me!
>>>
>>> Rick
>>>
>>>> On Nov 19, 2017, at 5:05 PM, Matthias Rebbe via use-livecode <use-livecode at lists.runrev.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Rick,
>>>>
>>>> if you have an Indy or Business license of Livecode , then you should find the commercial license of LcServer in your Livcode account.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Matthias
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