Bug#349209: [pkg-boost-devel] Bug#349209: boost: Boost Graph Library
is non-free and undistributable in compiled form
Steve M. Robbins
steven.robbins at videotron.ca
Tue Feb 7 03:05:51 UTC 2006
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
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