[Mono-list] What is the correct way to install onlytheMonoRuntime on a Windows PC?

Sat Apr 29 05:26:13 EDT 2006

Wow. I'm sorry but you are wrong.

First off the C# compiler does compile down to IL (byte code) and yes
Mono's C# compiler is released under the GPL, however it doesn't really
matter if a compiler is GPL or not. Creations created using a piece of
GPLed software are not suddenly subjected to the terms of the GPL as
well. Like if I created an image with GIMP, it not like that image is
GPL as well then. That's why you can use GCC and compile all the
proprietary code you want. 

It also wouldn't really matter if the JIT caused your code to be linked
to the runtime at runtime or not. Consider WINE. It's completely GPL but
running Windows apps on it doesn't suddenly make that code in the
Windows app GPL or make you in violation of the GPL. However, if you
were planning on distributing wine and the windows app together in a
single package, then you might have a problem. 

The fact is that Mono's runtime is LGPL so it is possible to distribute
mono with your application without giving out your source code to your
own stuff.

The class libraries are also released under MIT/X11. This is because the
LGPL doesn't really make it nice for languages that make use of
in-lining or with the security and signing requirements imposed by CLI
on assemblies (as well as some of the technically vague areas around
inheritance and stuff in LGPL). Now with C++ its almost impossible to
use LGPL correctly, and it's partly why GNU's classpath libraries are
released under GPL with linking exception (instead of LGPL). LGPL
requires that the LGPL libraries you link as part of your app be able to
be recompiled and replaced in place if the user wants to. This should be
possible in CLI without to many problem most of the time (unlike C++
where that can cause a ton of technical issues if you tried that), but
there are a few places where you still have trouble like that in CLI
with signed assemblies and some other vague parts of the LGPL concerning
inheritance and the like. LGPL is really best designed for C libraries
more then anything.

However if you look at the way the runtime speaks to the corelib, the
way it links is over the interal p/invoke like call, it should be
completely possible to change out and recompile just the runtime alone
if you got a binary version of the core libraries (if anyone distributed
you something like that). LGPL is perfect for that part.  

Pretty much Mono is extremely flexible and in almost every case you have
nothing to worry about, except if you want to package our C# compiler
with your app. 

Zac 

On Fri, 2006-04-28 at 16:41 -0600, mail.matt.mcdonald at gmail.com wrote:
> I understand, you need the compiler though since mono uses a JIT (just in
> time compiler), which means that it doesn't actually compile to bit code
> until just before it runs (before that it compiles to and intermediate
> language which is abbreviated to IL).Once again, I'm not a lawyer but as
> long as you make sure to mention where a user can get the mono source and
> you should be in compliance with the GPL.
> 	-Matt McDonald
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jonathan S. Chambers [mailto:Jonathan.Chambers at ansys.com] 
> Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 2:49 PM
> To: mail.matt.mcdonald at gmail.com; GaoXianchao; rolandpish
> Cc: mono-list at lists.ximian.com
> Subject: RE: [Mono-list] What is the correct way to install
> onlytheMonoRuntime on a Windows PC?
> 
> FYI, only compiler and tools are GPL:
> http://www.mono-project.com/FAQ:_Licensing
> 
> My little app doesn't need the compiler (as well as some other
> components). So, I'm trying to save some size and avoid redistributing
> anything GPL since I don't necessarily completely understand it :-).
> 
> Thanks,
> Jonathan
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: mail.matt.mcdonald at gmail.com
> [mailto:mail.matt.mcdonald at gmail.com]
> > Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 4:01 PM
> > To: Jonathan S. Chambers; 'GaoXianchao'; 'rolandpish'
> > Cc: mono-list at lists.ximian.com
> > Subject: RE: [Mono-list] What is the correct way to install
> > onlytheMonoRuntime on a Windows PC?
> > 
> > As an afterthought, I should also point out that the mono libraries
> are
> > probably mostly licensed as GPL as well.
> > 	-Matt McDonald
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jonathan S. Chambers [mailto:Jonathan.Chambers at ansys.com]
> > Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 8:31 AM
> > To: mail.matt.mcdonald at gmail.com; GaoXianchao; rolandpish
> > Cc: mono-list at lists.ximian.com
> > Subject: RE: [Mono-list] What is the correct way to install
> > onlytheMonoRuntime on a Windows PC?
> > 
> > Even if .Net redistributable contains a compiler, my question for
> > redistributing mono on windows is about licensing. If I redistribute
> > mono on windows using the current installer (which in includes the
> > compilers), wouldn't that invoke the GPL (since the mono compilers are
> > GPL)?
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Jonathan
> > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: mono-list-bounces at lists.ximian.com [mailto:mono-list-
> > > bounces at lists.ximian.com] On Behalf Of mail.matt.mcdonald at gmail.com
> > > Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 2:40 AM
> > > To: 'GaoXianchao'; 'rolandpish'
> > > Cc: mono-list at lists.ximian.com
> > > Subject: RE: [Mono-list] What is the correct way to install
> > > onlytheMonoRuntime on a Windows PC?
> > >
> > > Download the Windows installer from the downloads section of the
> mono
> > > website (http://www.mono-project.com/Downloads). You probably want
> the
> > > "Mono
> > > for Windows, Gtk# and XSP" link.
> > >
> > > Both .NET and Mono include a compiler since it's necessary for a
> > working
> > > setup.
> > > 	-Matt McDonald
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: mono-list-bounces at lists.ximian.com
> > > [mailto:mono-list-bounces at lists.ximian.com] On Behalf Of GaoXianchao
> > > Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 8:16 PM
> > > To: rolandpish
> > > Cc: mono-list at lists.ximian.com
> > > Subject: Re: [Mono-list] What is the correct way to install only
> > > theMonoRuntime on a Windows PC?
> > >
> > > I have the same question.
> > >
> > >
> > > 2006/4/28, rolandpish <rolandpish at netscape.net>:
> > > >
> > > > Hi everyone.
> > > > I want to install the Mono runtime on a Windows XP machine.
> > > > I don't want to install compilers, gui designers, etc..., only
> > runtime.
> > > > Is there a way to do this?
> > > > What is the correct procedure?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for your help
> > > > Regards
> > > > --
> > > > View this message in context:
> > > http://www.nabble.com/What-is-the-correct-way-to-install-only-the-
> > > MonoRuntim
> > > e-on-a-Windows-PC--t1520427.html#a4128416
> > > > Sent from the Mono - General forum at Nabble.com.
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Mono-list maillist  -  Mono-list at lists.ximian.com
> > > > http://lists.ximian.com/mailman/listinfo/mono-list
> > > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Mono-list maillist  -  Mono-list at lists.ximian.com
> > > http://lists.ximian.com/mailman/listinfo/mono-list
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
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