GPL and LGPL in commercial software?
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Will someone please explain to me in lamen terms, what the rules are for using GPL or LGPL licesensed code in a commercial application? For example, if I want to link to a library with the code in it? How about if I want to derive classes from the code? Do I have to release the source code for the entire application from using the GPL or LGPL licensed code? Nothing is impossible, It's merely a question of figuring out HOW?
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Will someone please explain to me in lamen terms, what the rules are for using GPL or LGPL licesensed code in a commercial application? For example, if I want to link to a library with the code in it? How about if I want to derive classes from the code? Do I have to release the source code for the entire application from using the GPL or LGPL licensed code? Nothing is impossible, It's merely a question of figuring out HOW?
With LGPL, you can link dynamically with the code (the LGPL licenced part must be a DLL), and you can use the headers, including deriving classes, from your commercial code without having to release your code under a Free Software licence. GPL code can't be linked with (statically or dynamically) or included to a non-free program. However, you could isolate the GPL part as an independent process, and use its functions from the commercial application through COM or some other communication mechanism.