Re:Apple deprecates Java
by rbanffy on Thursday October 21, 2010 @01:23PM
(#1816486)
> Having an optimized in-house compiler
Not only that, but making tweaks and optimizations (remember that Apple's compiler has to target a very narrow subset of what general Clang, or GCC, target) to an internal version even while releasing the sources for the "base" version would also give Apple a competitive advantage.
Since they own the product, the licence would not bother them much - they could just relicense it - but I assume that by using GPL they would be educating their customers in subjects they would rather keep them ignorant.
edit: Apple doesn't own Clang or LLVM. Copyright belongs to individual contributors. However, since it's BSD, Apple's ability to tune a "secret-sauce" version to its hardware is unhindered.
Not only that, but making tweaks and optimizations (remember that Apple's compiler has to target a very narrow subset of what general Clang, or GCC, target) to an internal version even while releasing the sources for the "base" version would also give Apple a competitive advantage.
Since they own the product, the licence would not bother them much - they could just relicense it - but I assume that by using GPL they would be educating their customers in subjects they would rather keep them ignorant.
edit: Apple doesn't own Clang or LLVM. Copyright belongs to individual contributors. However, since it's BSD, Apple's ability to tune a "secret-sauce" version to its hardware is unhindered.