一、首先得了解android体系结构
从下到上介绍上图
Linux Kernel: 完全开源,GPLv2协议
Libraryies: 含少量开源库
Android Runtime: android 优化的JAVA虚拟机,更适合嵌入式系统。
Application Framework和Application都是JAVA程序。
二、android如何规避GPLv2的传染性
- 首先,最关键点是Linus Torvalds在Linux内核版权最前的一段话,保证了Linux内核GPLv2不传染
Linux内核的版权是GPLv2,但是Linus Torvalds在Linux内核的版权文件COPYING中最前面增加了下面一段话,保证了Linux内核的商业用途不被GPLv2传染。
NOTE! This copyright does *not* cover user programs that use kernel services by normal system calls - this is merely considered normal use of the kernel, and does *not* fall under the heading of "derived work". Also note that the GPL below is copyrighted by the Free Software Foundation, but the instance of code that it refers to (the Linux kernel) is copyrighted by me and others who actually wrote it. Also note that the only valid version of the GPL as far as the kernel is concerned is _this_ particular version of the license (ie v2, not v2.2 or v3.x or whatever), unless explicitly otherwise stated. Linus Torvalds ---------------------------------------- GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 2, June 1991
注意:这个版权不覆盖通过正常系统调用来使用Linux内核服务的用户程序。
有了这一点Linux内核的GPLv2不会传染内核之上。
以上版权文件可以到Linux Kernel的网站上下载:
- 其次,android把GNU/Linux中的系统库glibc换为libc了。
一般的GNU/Linux上图中的libc位置是glibc。
glibc是GNU的,属于GPL授权,有传染性。
libc是google 改写优化的Free BSD Bionic库,属于BSD协议。可以选择性开源,也不具传染性。
通过以上两点,android很好的规避了GNU/Linux GPL协议的传染性。