Re: [GNU-linux-libre] potential issue with packages embedding waf

[Sam Geeraerts]

Karl Goetz wrote:
> Hi all,
> I was hoping to get some input from this list on whether we should be
> dropping packages containing the 'waf' build system. Its come up for
> discussion in Debian as it appears to be a DFSG violation[1] (not our
> problem), but might also constitute a GPL violation [2].

It's a technicality, but I agree that distributing a GPL program that 
includes the waf blob without unpacked source is probably a violation. 
Luckily it seems easy to fix [1].

> Its worth noting not all packages shipping waf are automatically
> problematic (its suggested samba ships the full waf source embedded [3])

I did a quick search in the samba 3.5.6 package, but couldn't find 
anyting about waf.

> I'm not sure the best way to get a current list of packages embedding
> waf. An expensive way would be to extract all packages and search for
> it - i can do it , but rather only if needed.

Can we trust Debian to have done their homework well [2]?

[1] http://wiki.debian.org/UnpackWaf
[2] 
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/address@hidden;tag=waf-unpack