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GPL doesn't require, but maintenance kills youGPL doesn't require, but maintenance kills youPosted Oct 21, 2009 15:00 UTC (Wed) by dwheeler (guest, #1216)In reply to: KS2009: How Google uses Linux by drag Parent article: KS2009: How Google uses Linux
Correct, the GPL doesn't require the release of this internal source code. However, the GPL does have an effect (by intent): Google cannot take the GPL'ed program, modify it, and sell the result as a proprietary program. Thus, what Google is doing is almost certainly wasting its own resources, by trying to do its own parallel maintenance. They could probably save a lot of money and time by working with the kernel developers; it's a short-term cost for long-term gain. And as a side-effect, doing so would help all other kernel users. There's probably some stuff that will stay Google-only, but if they worked to halve it, they'd probably save far more than half their money. Google can do this, in spite of its long-term inefficiencies, because they have a lot of money... but that doesn't mean it's the best choice for them or anyone else.
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Appliance kernel source? Posted Oct 21, 2009 15:11 UTC (Wed) by dmarti (subscriber, #11625) [Link] If you buy a Google Search Appliance, you should be able to request a copy of the source code to any GPL software on it. (Could be that they're maintaining a whole extra kernel for the GSA, though.)
Appliance kernel source? Posted Oct 21, 2009 18:17 UTC (Wed) by ncm (subscriber, #165) [Link]
By their reports, you wouldn't _want_ to see the code.
Appliance kernel source? Posted Oct 27, 2009 9:13 UTC (Tue) by dsommers (subscriber, #55274) [Link]
That's exactly why I would insist on seeing the code ;-)
Appliance kernel source? Posted Oct 30, 2009 22:25 UTC (Fri) by cdibona (subscriber, #13739) [Link] You guys are killing me, we've had this up The GSA Mirror for years and years. Enjoy!Chris DiBona
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