[fpc-pascal] Notice: Possible copyright infringements in FPCcodebase

[Skybuck Flying]

Hello,

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joost van der Sluis" <joost at cnoc.nl>
To: "FPC-Pascal users discussions" <fpc-pascal at lists.freepascal.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 9:57 AM
Subject: Re: [fpc-pascal] Notice: Possible copyright infringements in 
FPCcodebase


> Op dinsdag 20-11-2007 om 01:33 uur [tijdzone +0100], schreef Skybuck
> Flying:
>> Delphi Compiler is written in C/C++ ?!? (Closed source)
>>
>> VCL/RTL is written in Delphi ! (Open Source)
>
> No. The VCL is written in Object Pascal, yes.

Last time I checked object pascal was really old and Delphi added new 
language features.

VCL surely uses new language features ?

So Delphi's VCL might be written in object pascal but is certainly updated 
to use new Delphi language features ?!

> But it's not open source.

I like to think of open source vs closed source as: Viewable / Non-Viewable.

> Borland and CodeGear published the code, so that people can take a look
> at it, to see how it works. For documentational purpose. And you can
> change the code if you need to, but you still need a Delphi license if
> you want to do that.
> So the VCl and RTL are closed source, you may not use that code, unless
> you have a license, then that license allows you a few things...

Anyway the point being:

Delphi's compiler is written in C/C++ so at first glance Borland/CodeGear 
cannot just copy code from the free pascal compiler.

I might learn concepts but then again Borland/Codegear/Anybody is probably 
allowed to implement their own versions of these concepts unless there 
patented or anything like that.

Which leaves maybe the RTL and VCL as a concern... here units might be 
copied/interexchanged etc.

Free-Pascal-Compiler could eat itself into Delphi meaning:

Free-Pascal-Compiler becomes an add-on to Delphi, as an alternative 
compiler.

This way Free-Pascal-Compiler does not need to re-produce every VCL/RTL 
unit...

Could save lots of time.

Only drawback might be it's no longer a stand alone product ?

Also Borland/CodeGear has Turbo Delphi available for free... I don't know if 
it comes with source code.

I wonder how CodeGear feels about sharing their RTL/VCL code with others 
like free pascal.

Only reason for them not to do it is:

Try break compatibility.
Try to create extra work for free pascal developers etc.

So only evil reasons to not allow it.

Finally the RTL/VCL not even that great... some parts great, some parts 
kinda basic.

I think it would be good to share in this department.

I think Delphi could benefit from a popular/good compatible free pascal 
compiler as well, since free pascal compiler can do cross-compiling 
something that Delphi's compiler can't do.

This could make Delphi a more extractive Development environment.

Steps:

1. Write code in Delphi IDE and Delphi's fast compiler.

Then when as good as done.

2. Switch to free pascal compiler for any cross compiling or alternative 
compiler code checking or so ;)

And it would also take away the fear of some people that Delphi/Pascal might 
die some day.

^^^ Good reasons for Borland/CodeGear to support free pascal compiler 
compatibility a little bit ;) ^^^

Bye,
  Skybuck.