[SOLVED] Any story on why trn was removed?

BradReed · 01-12-2017, 08:54 PM

I see in -current's ChangeLog from 12 Jan.

n/trn-3.6-x86_64-2.txz: Removed.

I was curious for the reason. Was it no longer compiling?

I have to say in over 15 years of using Slackware, I never used trn. I generally used slrn, but Slackware usually keeps the old stuff around or moves it to /pasture rather than removing it. I'm not asking for its return, I was just curious.

volkerdi · 01-12-2017, 08:58 PM

It hadn't been recompiled in 15 years, and the build script didn't have any configuration built into it. I wasn't honestly sure that the package could be built in a generic enough way to actually work for anyone. On top of that, the license was questionable.

dugan · 01-13-2017, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volkerdi

It hadn't been recompiled in 15 years

I am actually extremely startled to learn that Slackware64 has been out for that long.

Petri Kaukasoina · 01-13-2017, 12:38 PM

I still use trn, although not version 3.6 but 4.0-test77 from year 2000. The "new" LICENSE file in 4.0-test77 doesn't look too bad, I think.

qweasd · 01-13-2017, 09:14 PM

The new license is almost like the old license, but does have an important modification (in green) which may be relevant for the Slackware project:

Quote:

Permission is hereby granted to copy, reproduce, redistribute or otherwise use this software as long as:
there is no monetary profit gained specifically from the use or reproduction of this software,
it is not sold, rented, traded or otherwise marketed,
and this copyright notice is included prominently in any copy made.
Software bundlers who include trn among other diverse applications are exempt from this restriction,
as long as the distribution includes trn's source code (including this license).

I don't want to make an impression of understanding the intricacies of the copyright law, but at least on the face of it, the Slackware project has ever been in violation of the old license, since its distribution is monetized via the official store. The new license, while still clearly non-libre, seems to put a project like Slackware in the clear.