DM 42 Source code updated

[Claudio L.]

(06-04-2018 10:13 PM)emece67 Wrote:  My feeling is absolutely different. They couldn't release all the source code because it has non-compatible licenses. Thus, they distributed the GPL parts in source code form and the other parts compiled.

You are correct that they separated the GPL parts and distributed the modified source code.

(06-04-2018 10:13 PM)emece67 Wrote:  This, IMO, violates the GPL license. They haven't implemented an OS with an API where I (or any other) can write his/her own programs to be run (if so, what is the expected behavior of such 100+ "OS API" functions so I can use any of them?). This is not an OS, but the 29 % of the firmware of a product, as its only function is allow the remaining 71 % to work[*].

As a matter of fact, it appears they did implement an API. They have also distributed (in a more liberal BSD style license) the headers needed to use that API to link into their DMCP module (the closed-source OS if you want to call it that). The functions have their declarations, and you can see examples of how to use them in the Free42 GPL'd source code patches.
The firmware is not a single binary blob now. This was the main "issue" with the GPL compliance, the fact that the GPL code was statically linked into a single "packaged final product" with the non-GPL code. They are now distributing the DMCP module in one binary file, and the DM42 "program" in a separate file. The DMCP module apparently allows you to update the DM42 program from a file in a FAT partition, independent of the OS.

(06-04-2018 10:13 PM)emece67 Wrote:  For me this is the end of the story. Clearly Swissmicros will not release the full source code of the product and plan to continue selling a product that, I think, violates a software license. Simply, I do not want to buy any more items from such a company, this includes, unfortunately, the future wp43s hardware platform.

I was among the first ones pointing out the violation of the license and supporting Thomas in his demands. But right now the project was organized in a way that seems to comply with every detail of the GPL license. Whether we like it or not doesn't really matter, it's the nature of open source that they can use the project as long as they comply with that license. Somebody may call it "compliance", other people will choose to call it a "workaround" or a "cheat", some may think it's disloyal and some not, everyone is entitled to an opinion and to have their own feelings. But speaking technically (all feelings aside), I have no reasonable arguments to make the case for non-compliance anymore.
I do think it's now possible for other people to do their own customizations on the DM42 program, compile them and flash them in their calculator (or write a completely different program altogether), that's what this community wanted and that's in the spirit of the GPL.