GPL doesn't require, but maintenance kills you
GPL doesn't require, but maintenance kills you
Posted 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.
Posted Oct 21, 2009 15:11 UTC (Wed)
by dmarti (subscriber, #11625)
[Link] (3 responses)
Posted Oct 21, 2009 18:17 UTC (Wed)
by ncm (guest, #165)
[Link] (2 responses)
Posted Oct 27, 2009 9:13 UTC (Tue)
by dsommers (subscriber, #55274)
[Link] (1 responses)
Posted Oct 30, 2009 22:25 UTC (Fri)
by cdibona (guest, #13739)
[Link]
Chris DiBona
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?
Appliance kernel source?
Appliance kernel source?
You guys are killing me, we've had this up The GSA
Mirror for years and years. Enjoy!
Appliance kernel source?