# Licence question regarding GPLv2 Ruby script

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/licence-question-regarding-gplv2-ruby-script/108740>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [July 6, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/licence-question-regarding-gplv2-ruby-script/108740 "2007-07-06T13:46:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![anonymous](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@anonymous](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/anonymous)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/licence-question-regarding-gplv2-ruby-script/108740/1 "2007-07-06T13:46:16Z")

</div>

Hi all,

The Ruby beautifier script  
([\* Ruby Script Beautifier](http://www.arachnoid.com/ruby/rubyBeautifier.html)) is released under  
the GPLv2 licence.

I understand what the GPLv2 means for a source code which has to be  
compiled and so on like the Ruby interpreter. In the case of a Ruby  
script, I’m not sure to understand correctly all the licence terms.

If I execute only the script from my application (an IDE like  
application) to format a Ruby source, do I have to release my  
application under the GPLv2 licence ?

Thanks in advance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![anonymous](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@anonymous](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/anonymous)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2007, 4:52pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/licence-question-regarding-gplv2-ruby-script/108740/2 "2007-07-06T16:52:58Z")

</div>

Hi,

In message “Re: Licence question regarding GPLv2 Ruby script”  
on Fri, 6 Jul 2007 20:46:23 +0900, anonymous  
[removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) writes:

|The Ruby beautifier script  
|([\* Ruby Script Beautifier](http://www.arachnoid.com/ruby/rubyBeautifier.html)) is released under  
|the GPLv2 licence.  
|  
|I understand what the GPLv2 means for a source code which has to be  
|compiled and so on like the Ruby interpreter. In the case of a Ruby  
|script, I’m not sure to understand correctly all the licence terms.  
|  
|If I execute only the script from my application (an IDE like  
|application) to format a Ruby source, do I have to release my  
|application under the GPLv2 licence ?

In short, I don’t think so.

```
          matz.

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![anonymous](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@anonymous](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/anonymous)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/licence-question-regarding-gplv2-ruby-script/108740/3 "2007-07-07T23:43:38Z")

</div>

Hello,

On 7/6/07, anonymous [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> If I execute only the script from my application (an IDE like  
> application) to format a Ruby source, do I have to release my  
> application under the GPLv2 licence ?

See this FAQ:  
[http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl-faq.html#MereAggregation](http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl-faq.html#MereAggregation)

In short: no, you don’t have to. 🙂

– Kristoffer

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![anonymous](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@anonymous](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/anonymous)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 10:15am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/licence-question-regarding-gplv2-ruby-script/108740/4 "2007-07-09T10:15:09Z")

</div>

Kristoffer Lundén wrote:

> See this FAQ:  
> [Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU Licenses - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation](http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl-faq.html#MereAggregation)
> 
> In short: no, you don’t have to. 🙂
> 
> – Kristoffer

Thanks Matz and Kristoffer for your replies.  
The link to the GPL FAQ makes things more clear.