Bug#397939: Lintian: outdated-autotools-helper-file
On Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 10:50:23AM +0100, Bas Wijnen wrote:
> As a sidestep, I think this target may actually be legally required for
> GPL (at least 2 and 3) licenced code. They say
>
> For an executable work, complete source code means all the
> source code for all modules it contains, plus any associated
> interface definition files, plus the scripts used to control
> compilation and installation of the executable.
> (version 2), and
> The "Corresponding Source" for a work in object code form means
> all the source code needed to generate, install, and (for an
> executable work) run the object code and to modify the work,
> including scripts to control those activities.
> (version 3).
>
> In other words, build rules to generate the binary from source must be
> present.
The GPL does not require us to build anything. Just that the source
are available.
I would also like to point out this exception from the autoconf license:
| As a special exception, the Free Software Foundation gives unlimited
| permission to copy, distribute and modify the configure scripts that
| are the output of Autoconf. You need not follow the terms of the GNU
| General Public License when using or distributing such scripts, even
| though portions of the text of Autoconf appear in them. The GNU
| General Public License (GPL) does govern all other use of the material
| that constitutes the Autoconf program.
Kurt
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