My python programs need a GUI, wxPython or PyQt4?
Giovanni Bajo
noway at ask.me
Wed Jan 24 09:00:49 EST 2007
On 24/01/2007 1.45, Joshua J. Kugler wrote:
>> I've downloaded both the wxPython and the PyQt4 package, and by the
>> first impression I must say that the PyQt4 system had a very
>> compelling presentation. From what I can understand from the feedback
>> I've gotten so far is that the wxPython is a better choice when it
>> comes to compability (with linux), and it's free even if I want to
>> create applications and sell them.
>> So, from what I understand I will have to go with PyQt4 since (from
>> my understanding):
>> 1. I will not sell the applications I'm working with since they will
>> only be used by the internal QA at a computer game company.
>
> Even that is getting on shaky ground, at least according to Troll Tech.
> See: http://www.trolltech.com/developer/knowledgebase/190/ So, write it
> for internal use, and put up for distribution on your personal web site
> (pending company approval, of course).
That page is legal babble, trying to trick you into buying (or making your
boss buy) a commercial license. The Qt Open Source edition *IS* GPL and thus
it falls under all the normal GPL clauses and uses, irrespective of what
Trolltech may or may not think.
For instance, see this FAQ:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLRequireSourcePostedPublic
which makes pretty clear that a "company"/"organization" is basically the same
of an "individual". "Releasing a software within a company for internal usage"
is by no means the same of "releasing it to the public". Basically, for what
the GPL is concerned, it is *not* a "release" or a "distribution" at all.
Thus, it is well possible to write internal GPL software, using the Qt Open
Source library, and to release/distribute/use it *ONLY* internally. Also, it
should be made clear that a company can of course relicense its own
proprietary libraries as GPL for internal usage only, so that they can be
linked to other GPL libraries "legally". For instance, in the case of Daniel
and his game company, they can link their proprietary game code to PyQt4 (Open
source edition) to produce an internal tool, like a level editor, which would
then fall under the GPL. If and only if they were to release that tool to the
public (either for free or for sale), they would have to either go GPL and
release full source code (include the parts of their game code linked to it),
or buy a Qt commercial license.
[[ Another page of similar babble is the one where they try to convince you
that you cannot use the Qt Open Source edition to develop a software, and then
buy the commercial edition only the day before you want to release it as non
open-source. I can't even understand how they can even try to support such a
nonsense position. You're free to develop your software for years as GPL
without distributing it, and then relicense your own code whenever you want.
They're obviously just trying to scare people. ]]
--
Giovanni Bajo
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