There are two licenses affecting GNU libstdc++-v3: one for the code, and - one for the documentation. Here we will describe both of them, and try - to answer some of the widespread questions. If you have more questions, - ask the FSF or the - gcc mailing list; the person - writing this page is a programmer, not a lawyer. -
- -The source code of libstdc++-v3 is distributed under version 2 of the - GNU General Public License, with the so-called - "runtime exception," as follows (or see any header or - implementation file): -
-- As a special exception, you may use this file as part of a free software - library without restriction. Specifically, if other files instantiate - templates or use macros or inline functions from this file, or you compile - this file and link it with other files to produce an executable, this - file does not by itself cause the resulting executable to be covered by - the GNU General Public License. This exception does not however - invalidate any other reasons why the executable file might be covered by - the GNU General Public License. -- -
Hopefully that text is self-explanatory. If it isn't, you need to speak - to your lawyer, or the Free Software Foundation. -
- - -Q: So any program which uses libstdc++ falls under the GPL?
-
A: No. The special exception permits use of the
- library in proprietary applications.
-
Q: How is that different from the GNU {Lesser,Library}
- GPL?
-
-
A: The LGPL requires that users be able to replace the LGPL code with a
- modified version; this is trivial if the library in question is a C
- shared library. But there's no way to make that work with C++, where
- much of the library consists of inline functions and templates, which
- are expanded inside the code that uses the library. So to allow people
- to replace the library code, someone using the library would have to
- distribute their own source, rendering the LGPL equivalent to the GPL.
-
Q: I see. So, what restrictions are there on
- programs that use the library?
-
A: None. We encourage such programs to be released as open source,
- but we won't punish you or sue you if you choose otherwise.
-
The documentation shipped with the library and made available over the - web, including the pages generated from source comments, are copyrighted - by the Free Software Foundation, and placed under - the GNU Free Documentation License version 1.1. - There are no Front-Cover Texts, no Back-Cover Texts, and - - no Invariant Sections. -
- -If you plan on making copies of the documentation, please let us know. - We can probably offer suggestions. -
- - - - --Comments and suggestions about this page are welcome, and may be sent to -the libstdc++ mailing list. -Comments or questions about the licenses themselves are also welcome, and -should be directed to the GCC list as descibed above. -
- - - - - -