I'm asked to create a network tool in C and a GUI API in linux platform by my company.
I'm aware of the GPL & GLPL licenses , but not clear whether I can create a proprietary commercial software with the tools & libraries available in Linux:
My tool will be written in C and will be using the some network library functions in the Linux and some header files .(Their license is GPL) , also the GUI i'm planning to develop is using GTK and Glade / Anjuta, (GTK is based on GLPL license) ,
I will be using GCC compiler for C programs,

Please let me know whether it is possible to create a closed source-commercial software using the above tools/libraries, if not possible is there any workaround is there for creating commerical tools in linux ??
Can I make some part of my code closed and some parts open?
Also please let me know which is the best GUI building programming language/IDE that can be used with C programs in linux

Thanks in Adance

Hi

You can't link in GPL libraries in closed source applications. LGPL is ok, unless you modify the library. The only workaround is to not use any GPL libraries.

You can use GPL tools while making the application. It depends is what you distribute. If you distribute software with GPL software, the source has to be included.

As has been pointed out, the GPL makes no restrictions on your use of software (which is why it is considered a free license). So the use of compilers and other tools is unrestrained (you are the end user of these).

What it does affect is your redistribution of the software. So as Guttorm points out, you can only distribute a GPL library if the rest of the software is also covered by a license compatible with the GPL (which implies open source amongst other things), since your software is a derivative work. The LGPL makes an explicit exception for libraries, which allows you to apply your own terms to the derivative work, with certain conditions (which primarily involve the licensees being able to relink with the library).

Whether your software is commercial or not is irrelevant; the GPL does not discriminate against commercial applications. Its primary concern is for the freedom of the end user.

I believe the BSD style license allows what you want, but whether that or LGPL, read the license carefully; in fact make your company lawyer read it(!)

You can create commercial closed source apps running under Linux - a lot of EDA software for Linux exists.

You can link with glibc - it has a link exception.

Regarding GUI - I'd recommend Qt - its license is LGPL.