Devel Digest, Vol 7, Issue 38

[Ethan Blanton]

Eion Robb spake unto us the following wisdom:
> I'm not sure if you (or most people on the devel list) understand how
> the connection is made between the client (eg my plugin) using the API
> and Skype. The Skype 'API' isn't a traditional API or library or
> anything to link to, its just a protocol with a different name. For
> example, sending "NAME Pidgin" over an x11/win32 message, tells Skype
> that there's a program with the name 'Pidgin' connecting to it.  No
> linking of libraries or nothing.

I understand that the Skype API uses D-Bus or X11 as an RPC mechanism.
I find that irrelevant.  This is nothing more than a craven attempt to
circumvent the GPL.  I'm not sure *you* understand the implications
here.

Consider that I could write an implementation of ld.so which used stub
functions and message passing between processes to "isolate" a library
from a process -- I think you would agree that this was still a bound
API.  Consider also scripting APIs, such as in python or perl -- these
are not linked symbols, but are clearly equivalent.  The skype API is
the same situation.

> The Skype 'API' has direct similarity with, say, the MSN protocol.  Pidgin  
> is a client to the service, Pidgin uses an OS library for communicating  
> (MSN=tcp/udp, Skype=x11/dbus/win32) to connect to the server  
> (MSN=messenger.microsoft.com, Skype=process on the same machine)

I disagree.  We discussed this in #pidgin; it is the difference
between a service and an API/ABI translator.  Skype using D-Bus and
X11 as nothing more than an ABI translator to its API.  It is the
functional equivalent of using winelib to load PE libraries into an
ELF process.  Any claim to the contrary is disingenuous at best.

> There seems to be a log of negative stigma associated with Skype, however  
> one needs to look at the implementation before throwing in the legal  
> buzzwords.  There have already been other open-source projects (yes, GPL  
> ones too) that use the Skype 'API'.
> 
> Have a look at my source code if you're worried.  It links with glib, and  
> uses x11 (could use dbus) and win32 libraries.  That's it.  Perfectly safe  
> for including in libpurple :)

I disagree, as do many others.  Distribution of this plugin is a
violation of the GPL.

Ethan

-- 
The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws [that have no remedy
for evils].  They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor
determined to commit crimes.
		-- Cesare Beccaria, "On Crimes and Punishments", 1764
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