DMD Backend Long-term

[Robert Clipsham]

On 21/06/10 16:07, dsimcha wrote:
> What is the long-term plan for the current DMD backend?  I've noticed the
> first steps towards 64-bit support were just checked in today (excitement to
> the extreme).  However, the backend is under such a restrictive license (which
> I understand Walter is not free to change) that it has a "bus factor" of 1.
> If Walter were to stop maintaining it, noone else would be able to, if I
> understand the licensing issues correctly.
>
> Is there a chance of these licensing issues being cleared up so that the
> backend can be released under a more permissive license?  If not, while I
> understand Walter's decision to use a backend he was familiar with in the
> beginning, it seems like we should abandon such a heavily encumbered backend
> now that it needs serious work.

Perhaps the 64bit backend could be written in such a way that it doesn't 
have the licensing issues? I have no idea what the specifics are to say 
if this is possible, it'd be good to not have the 64 bit backend under 
the current backend license though.