Linux and Free Software :: Introducing StudentOS™ (A remastered DSL4.0)

chaostic: I think there may be a problem with your interpretation of those links you posted:
1 - it says v3?
2 - it says it's fine to charge a fee

(3) - see /usr/share/doc/License

There are some uncertanties on this (that I even have) in which I think a lawyer would be best in consulting with I suppose. Even then, there are "gray areas" and I don't want to bother with it (personally).

In any case, this thread has now gone off-topic imo...

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In any case, this thread has now gone off-topic imo...

Agreed, but I also think it and its echo (duplicate) in another section were in poor taste since they're not DSL-specific and "advertising" someone else's sub-distro. Which is why I first replied as I did about spam.

But since we're already at this point... I can give a rationale for why source isn't available online and why your request should have a corresponding release number. Some of the sources have been modified at different points and in different ways. In order to fulfill the obligation online, John would have to maintain separate sections for each release with any changes. An example would include the various jwm versions and some of the modifications to it as well as other sources that have changed. It's not just one set of sources he's managing, it's a variety of that apply per DSL version.

(edited)

Hi All,

Just a quick update on the source bundles. I have made them all available now.

http://www.metoolabs.com/src/README

http://www.metoolabs.com/src/prereqs contain all the "Pre-requisites".

http://www.metoolabs.com/src/editions contain all software bundles that went into "Editions".

Also pl. note that I have disabled the "Streaming-Edition" under "Download" as I need to get all the sources in building VLC, which is the hardest of all.

http://www.metoolabs.com/Docs/Streaming-Edition/Vlc

And here is that README file.

README
--------------

"http://www.metoolabs.com/src" contain the files that I used to remaster DSL4.0.

cloop_2.01-6.tar.gz
linux-2.4.35.tar.gz
unionfs-1.0.14.tar.gz
dsl.config
one.sh
two.sh
three.sh

"http://wwww.metoolabs.com/src/prereqs" contain source files of all the "Pre-requisites" that are used in building different Editions of StudentOS.

apache-ant-1.7.0-src.tar.gz
apache-tomcat-6.0.16.tar.gz
curl-7.17.1.tar.gz
expat-2.0.1.tar.gz
httpd-2.2.6.tar.bz2
imap.tar.Z
junit-4.4.jar
libxml2-2.6.30.tar.gz
mysql-5.0.45-linux-i686.tar.gz
openldap-2.4.6.tgz
openssl-0.9.8g.tar.gz
perl-5.8.8.tar.bz2
php-5.2.5.tar.gz
phpMyAdmin-2.11.3-all-languages-utf-8-only.tar.bz2
phpPgAdmin-4.2.tar.bz2
postgresql-8.2.5.tar.bz2
sendmail.8.14.2.tar.gz

"http://wwww.metoolabs.com/src/editions" contain source files of all the softwares that are used in building different Editions of StudentOS.

Joomla_1.0.13-Stable-Full_Package.tar.bz2
MIME-tools-5.426.tar.gz
MamboV4.6.2.tar.gz
OpenbravoERP-2.35-linux-installer.bin
Python-2.5.1.tgz
SugarCE-5.0.0.zip
TWiki-4.1.2.tgz
Ultimate3.0.2.tar.bz2
WebCalendar-1.0.5.tar.gz
asterisk-1.4-current.tar.gz
asterisk-addons-1.4-current.tar.gz
bugzilla-3.0.2.tar.gz
dokuwiki-2007-06-26b.tgz
drupal-6.1.tar.gz
expat-2.0.1.tar.gz
gallery-2.2.3-full.tar.gz
gd-2.0.35.tar.gz
gd-latest.tar.bz2
hyperic-hq-installer-3.2.2-650-x86-linux.tgz
jabberd-2.1.23.tar.bz2
junit-4.4.jar
latest.tar.gz
libgsasl-0.2.25.tar.gz
libidn-1.8.tar.gz
libpri-1.2-current.tar.gz
mantis-1.0.8.tar.gz
mediawiki-1.11.0.tar.gz
mod_fastcgi-2.4.6.tar.gz
moin-1.5.8.tar.gz
moodle-1.9.tgz
nagios-3.0.1.tar.gz
nagios-plugins-1.4.11.tar.gz
oscommerce-2.2rc2a.zip
otrs-2.2.4.tar.gz
phorum-5.1.25.tar.gz
phpBB-3.0.0.tar.bz2
pmwiki-latest.tgz
rcs.tar.Z
rt-3.6.6.tar.gz
samba-latest.tar.gz
sendmail.8.14.2.tar.gz
squirrelmail-1.4.13.tar.gz
vtigerCRM-5.0.3-PHP5.2-Patch1.tar.gz
vtigercrm-5.0.3.tar.gz
webmin-1.410.tar.gz
websitebaker-2.6.7.tar.gz
zaptel-1.2-current.tar.gz
zen-cart-v1.3.8a-full-fileset-12112007.zip

We'll get back to you all once Iam back from my weekend trip.

Have a great weekend!

thanks,
Ananda

Quote (lucky13 @ June 13 2008,16:56)

QUOTING CHAOSTIC:

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First, according to the GPL, offering offline access only to the source, when the binaries are online, is against the GPL. If you want to start being a prick to one person, have you bugged John about that?

Stop the name-calling right now. I haven't engaged in ANY ad hominem attacks on anyone here. Yet this is the second time you've called me a prick.

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Does the GPL allow me to sell copies of the program for money?

Yes, the GPL allows everyone to do this. The right to sell copies is part of the definition of free software. Except in one special situation, there is no limit on what price you can charge. (The one exception is the required written offer to provide source code that must accompany binary-only release.)

This is where DSL is in compliance with both letter and spirit of GPL.

And...

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Does the GPL allow me to charge a fee for downloading the program from my site?

Yes. You can charge any fee you wish for distributing a copy of the program. If you distribute binaries by download, you must provide “equivalent access” to download the source—therefore, the fee to download source may not be greater than the fee to download the binary.

And:

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Many people believe that the spirit of the GNU project is that you should not charge money for distributing copies of software, or that you should charge as little as possible — just enough to cover the cost.

Actually we encourage people who redistribute free software to charge as much as they wish or can. If this seems surprising to you, please read on.

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html

and...

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Except for one special situation, the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL) has no requirements about how much you can charge for distributing a copy of free software. You can charge nothing, a penny, a dollar, or a billion dollars. It's up to you, and the marketplace, so don't complain to us if nobody wants to pay a billion dollars for a copy.

The one exception is in the case where binaries are distributed without the corresponding complete source code. Those who do this are required by the GNU GPL to provide source code on subsequent request. Without a limit on the fee for the source code, they would be able set a fee too large for anyone to pay—such as a billion dollars—and thus pretend to release source code while in truth concealing it. So in this case we have to limit the fee for source, to ensure the user's freedom. In ordinary situations, however, there is no such justification for limiting distribution fees, so we do not limit them.

ibid.

So you're wrong. As usual. Not bein' snarky or nothin'... heh.

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You gloss over the last part of the quote. 7 > 0.

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You gloss over the last part of the quote. 7 > 0

No, you just don't get it. GPLv2:
3-a) Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three years, to give any third party, for a charge NO MORE THAN YOUR COST OF PHYSICALLY PERFORMING SOURCE DISTRIBUTION, a complete machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange...

The offer is made in the same place where the ISOs are available. The offer is also made on the CD. The price of $7 is not prohibitive or unreasonable -- not when compared to the $30 charged by Mepis or other distros. Even TiVo charges $15, which isn't deemed excessive by FSF/SFLC. Only by chiselers who think GPL means "free as in beer" when that is NOT the case. Never has been, never will be. Clear yet?
cf. http://www.mepis.org/source
(edited to fix misspelling and to note my emphasis above)

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