What is OpenCOBOL?
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 1:57 pm
One is allowed to write OpenCOBOL programs that use the libcob run time library the way you like. The closed, proprietary, commercial use of it is allowed and encouraged. You can ship programs in binary form as you wish. Modifications to the compiler itself, MUST provide access to source code and be licensed under the GNU GPL. This ensures that no one is allowed to call modified sources their own, nor deny anyone else the chance to copy and re-distribute the compiler source code, including your local changes.
Please note: any version of the compiler that is configured to use Berkeley DB beyond version 1.85 must abide by the Oracle license and sources of the COBOL programs that use libdb must be shipped with any binaries. OpenCOBOL is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.