[antlr-interest] ANTLR Studio license issues

Prashant Deva prashant.deva at gmail.com
Thu Sep 22 09:36:33 PDT 2005


Yes, a trial version will be available when the final version of ANTLR
Studio is released :)

PRASHANT

On 9/22/05, Sebastian Mies <sebastian.mies at gmx.net> wrote:
> Hi Prashant,
>
> it's ok to sell software. So I don't really follow
> this discussion anymore.
>
> Another question:
> It would be nice to have an evaluation copy of AS, rather than only
> videos. Will there be one?
> I know that it is difficult to publish a eval version in an java
> environment since it can be easily cracked, decompiled or whatsoever..
> Maybe a limited version with a little more features than the
> antlreclipse plugin and a time limit would do it.
>
> Any plans?
>
> Sebastian.
>
> PD> 1.)  Why isnt ANTLR Studio GPLed?
>
> PD> Some people are saying that there is nothing in GPL that does not
> PD> allow you to charge for your product.
>
> PD> Yes, that is true, but it also says that you gotta distribute the
> PD> source along for free.
>
> PD> Now even a bonehead can conclude that if you can get the source code
> PD> for free then you would rather just download it and compile it
> PD> yourself than pay for the software. after all it takes only a minute
> PD> to compile. So NO, get this clear, if your software is GPLd , it
> PD> CANNOT be sold. Especially one like an IDE.
>
> PD> That said some parts of ANTLR Studio do come under the Sun Public
> PD> License and source will be provided with them. Specifically the
> PD> AntlrStudio.Lexer_1.0.0.jar distributed with the beta is under SPL.
> PD> You can download the source even now from netbeans site.
>
> PD> 2.) Why dont i give the IDE for free and charge for services? Doesnt
> PD> redhat use the same business model?
>
> PD> There is a difference between providing support for an IDE and
> PD> providing it for and Operating System.
> PD> Also AS has from the begining been designed such that you can
> PD> instantly start using it ful fledged without reading any manuals or
> PD> requiring any support. If you watch the videos you will see it says -
> PD> Time to learn ANTLR Studio - 0 minutes.
>
> PD> So if you have used Eclipse before you should get started with using
> PD> AS right away. There is nothing new to learn. No new keyboard
> PD> shortcuts, etc. You dont need to modify your code for use with the
> PD> debugger. Hell, you dont even need to press Ctrl+Space to auto
> PD> complete!
>
> PD> All the people who have got the beta version have been able to use
> PD> without requiring any help from me ( aside from the bugs they
> PD> encountered).
>
> PD> 3.) Somebody said something like giving the software away with GPL
> PD> allows the small guy to gain advantage in the market.
>
> PD> I will correct you on this. Yes, it does so, but only when the the
> PD> small guy is competing in a *large* market. The market for language
> PD> tools is small, very small and i wont be surpised if ANTLR Studio soon
> PD> becomes the leaading tool in the market.
>
> PD> 4.) Some guys are saying that ANTLR should have been GPLed so that all
> PD> tools for it would be GPL and that i am *selling* the work of Terence!
>
> PD> This really is the craziest message i have got. NO, I am NOT selling
> PD> Terence's work! ANTLR is still free and can be downloaded free of cost
> PD> from antlr.org. ANTLR Studio has been designed from the ground up by
> PD> me and me alone.
>
> PD> The reason why ANTLR is not GPL is cause then every program that uses
> PD> it would need to be GPLed and Terence certainly doesnt want that.
>
> PD> I had a talk with Terence regarding ANTLR Studio going commercial and
> PD> he told me that he was perfectly fine with it.
>
> PD> PRASHANT
>
>
>
>
>


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