Bug#349209: [pkg-boost-devel] Bug#349209: boost: Boost Graph Library is non-free and undistributable in compiled form

[Steve M. Robbins]

On Mon, Feb 06, 2006 at 09:50:14PM +0100, Francesco Poli wrote:

> > Ignoring bgl-viz (which we concluded is OK), the boost graph library
> > is template code and therefore *cannot* exist in compiled form.
> 
> Why?
> 
> When I write a C++ program that uses this library, and I instantiate a
> boost graph template, the compiler generates a specialized version of
> the template (namely the instance) and then compiles it.
> As a consequence, a compiled form of (my instance of) the template ends
> up in my executable and the source code for that chunk of my executable
> is the .hpp file from the library.

Ah.  You're taking the view not of Debian, but of a Debian user.
Now I understand the objection.  I'm convinced.

Let's hope the authors of the remaining few files can be contacted
and everything move to Boost Software License.

-Steve