[R] R on the iPhone/iPad? Not so much....a GPL violation

[Lanre Okusanya]

Android FTW?

On Sat, May 29, 2010 at 11:12 AM, Marc Schwartz <marc_schwartz at me.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> There have been posts in the past about R being made available for the iPhone and perhaps more logically now, on the iPad. My recollection is that the hurdle discussed in the past was primarily a lack of access to a CLI on the iPhone's variant of OSX, compelling the development of a GUI interface for R specifically for these devices. R itself, can be successfully compiled with the iPhone development tools.
>
> Well, now there is another, clearly more profound reason.
>
> The FSF has recently communicated with Apple on the presence of a GPL application (GNU Go) in the iTunes store because the iTunes TOS infringes upon the GPL. Apple, given a choice, elected to remove the application, rather than amending their TOS.
>
> The FSF also informed the developers of the iPhone port of GNU Go that their distribution is in violation of the GPL. R Core and any others considering an iPhone/iPad port of R, if you are not already aware, take note...
>
> More information is here:
>
>  http://www.fsf.org/news/2010-05-app-store-compliance/
>
> with an update here:
>
>  http://www.fsf.org/news/blogs/licensing/more-about-the-app-store-gpl-enforcement
>
> So, until Apple amends their TOS agreement, it looks like there will be no GPL apps available for the iPhone/iPad, since the only way to make applications available for these platforms is via the iTunes store (unless you unlock the device). Hence, no R for these devices in the foreseeable future.
>
> BTW, I am posting this as an FYI, not as a catalyst for a discussion on the political aspects of this situation. So please, let's not go there...  :-)
>
> Regards,
>
> Marc Schwartz
>
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