Author: Mike Hood
Date: 19:33:25 11/18/05
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On November 18, 2005 at 17:27:23, Dann Corbit wrote: >On November 18, 2005 at 15:44:16, Mike Hood wrote: > >>Today I read the information for the first time why Fruit 2.1 does not use >>tablebases for probing. (Sorry if this matter has been discussed in the past, >>it's new to me). >> >>The main reason given is "the source code by Eugene Nalimov is not 'free of use' >>(although you don't have to pay for it)". >> >>What does the author mean by this, and why is it a problem? > >Fruit 2.1 is licenced GPL. >Nalimov tablebase access is not GPL. > >Therefore, Nalimov tablebase files simply cannot be used with Fruit 2.1 (or any >other GPL licensed program). > >GPL stiplulates that all the code in the project becomes GPL also. That is >contrary to the license for the Eugene Nalmov/Andrew Kadtech tablebase access >code. > >For more information, do a web search on "Copyleft Virus". Thanks, Dann, I think I understand the issues at stake. It's a matter of two immovable forces. (I was tempted to call them Scylla and Charybdis, but both parties might take offence). Fabien has decided to distribute his source code using GPL rather than ad hoc, which brings restrictions with it. Eugene has kindly offered his source code for use by engine programmers, but he wants to keep control over it, not allowing hobby programmers to fumble around in his code. These two distribution methods are incompatible within one product, unless one of the two parties makes a compromise to allow a joint distribution. Fabien does have one other reason for not incorporating tablebase probing, namely his wish to keep his engine small, which probably makes him less likely to back away from GPL. Eugene's code is so well optimized in itself (at the cost of legibility) that I fully appreciate him not wanting people to tamper with it.
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