Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] PS3 versus freedom

[John Gilmore]

> If you want to run on the PS3, you're most likely going to want the
> IBM SDK 3.0.  The SDK really, really wants FC 7 on the PS3.

Some people will do anything for crunchons -- or "promised future" crunchons.
(A crunchon is a unit of number-crunching.)

I was wondering why this SDK wasn't already part of the SuSe or FC7
releases.  Ten minutes of research later, the answer is:  it's proprietary.

Why would anyone on this mailing list want to install proprietary
compilers?  The IBM license agreement is extortionate.  Besides the
usual rape and pillage, it says that:

  
http://www14.software.ibm.com/cgi-bin/weblap/lap.pl?la_formnum=&li_formnum=L-MCHN-6MVMPV&title=XL%20C/C%2B%2B%20Alpha%20Edition%20for%20Cell%20Processor

  *  You are not authorized to use the Program for productive purposes
  *  THE PROGRAM MAY CONTAIN A DISABLING DEVICE THAT WILL PREVENT IT FROM BEING 
USED AFTER THE EVALUATION PERIOD ENDS. YOU MAY NOT TAMPER WITH THIS DISABLING 
DEVICE OR THE PROGRAM. YOU SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID ANY LOSS OF DATA 
THAT MIGHT RESULT WHEN THE PROGRAM CAN NO LONGER BE USED. 
  *  You assign to IBM all right, title, and interest (including ownership of 
copyright) in any data, suggestions, or written materials that 1) are related 
to the Program and 2) You provide to IBM.
  *  Your right to run the program "ends after 90 days."

[I hope Eric hasn't provided IBM a copy of the GNU Radio code that compiles
under this compiler: IBM will end up owning the copyright on GNU Radio.
This may occur even if Eric just posts the code in a public place where
IBM can download it.]

If the above wasn't enough, it's also against GNU project policy to
use the mailing list or project documentation to advertise or advocate
for proprietary software.

If the GNU compilers for the CELL aren't good enough for us, I suggest
that we improve them.  If we just can't exploit the CELL processor without
proprietary software and patented algorithms, then I suggest we go
back to focusing on hosting GNU Radio on hardware that comes with freedom.

        John