Re: [PATCH] Re: [PATCH] scsi.h uses "u8" which isn't defined.

[Jeff Garzik]

Jamie Lokier wrote:
> Well, I've done quite a bit of
>
> 	#ifdef __i386__
> 	#define __NR_futex	240
> 	#elif defined (__alpha__)
> 	#define __NR_futex	394
> 	#elif defined (__mips__)
> 	... etc. ...
> 	#endif
>
> In order to distribute programs which compile with a distro's libc but
> will take advantage of features in later kernels when run on them.
>
> That's really unpleasant.  So, in revenge, here's an annoying question:

agreed.


> If userspace applications are ultimately compiled using Linux header
> files, indirectly included via Glibc or some other libc, and the
> kernel header files are GPL (version 2 only; not LGPL or any later
> GPL), isn't distributing those binary applications a gross violation
> of the GPL in some cases?

It's come up before, so it's not necessarily an original, annoying 
question ;-)

My non-lawyer guess would be, the structures and defines are required 
for Linux interoperability; that may be a factor.  static inline 
functions in headers, i.e. real code, is another matter too.

One way or another (direct inclusion, or via glibc-kernheaders pkg) the 
headers today are GPL'd not LGPL'd... so I suppose it remains the realm 
of lawyers...

IANAL,

	Jeff



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