From:
dsdp-pmc-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:dsdp-pmc-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Oberhuber, Martin
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 9:43 AM
To: DSDP PMC list
Subject: [dsdp-pmc] TM "works with" or "pre-req"
dependency on RXTX (LGPL)
The
TM Project has been including a plugin for its Terminal Widget,
which
allows to drive serial line text-mode connections in the Terminal.
We've
been coding against the external RXTX library [1] for this,
which
is under a slightly modified LGPL license, but are not shipping
RXTX
ourselves. Consequently, downloaders need to download RXTX
from
external source in order to get serial line access, although they
can
use the Terminal with other protocols if they don't have RXTX.
I've
just become aware of the Eclipse
Guidelines for the Review of Third
Party
Dependencies [2],
which are effective June 21, 2007 and which
require
us to announce this dependency by means of a CQ even if we
don't
ship the external library ourselves. See also [3] for the entire IP
process,
which mentions the 3rd party guideline in its last-but-on step.
As
per the guidelines, I'm required to first discuss with the PMC whether
our
dependency acutally is of "pre-req"
or "works-with"
type. I'm starting
this
process with this E-Mail.
Our
Terminal provides other
connection types as well (Telnet and
SSH),
which do not require RXTX. So, the Serial/RXTX connection
is
optional; but, for the Serial connection to actually work, RXTX
is
required.
Given the definition in [2], I'd think that our contribution is
"works-with"
but I'm not sure.
We
could, of course, also request clarification of the policy from the
EMO
for the likely much-happening case where some "connectors"
or
"bridges" are offered by Eclipse.org software, and one of them
requires
the 3rd party dependency -- An option (a) (iii) seems to be
missing,
where multiple options exist not all of which are 3rd party
and where
the functionality (provided protocol) is slightly different.
Anyways,
I wanted to ask you folks first.
Cheers,
--
Martin Oberhuber, Senior Member of
Technical Staff, Wind River
Target Management Project Lead, DSDP PMC Member
http://www.eclipse.org/dsdp/tm