Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl?

perl.j has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I am looking to write a compiler in the Perl programming language. Does anything restrict me from doing this by any license? What would I need to do to find this out?

--perl.j

Comment on Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl?

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Re: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by davies (Prior) on Oct 24, 2011 at 22:09 UTC
This, I think, is the licence for Perl itself. But I think that what you are describing is whether the licence for the language restricts in any way what you can do using the language. The answer to that is an absolute "No". Your code, your rules. Frequently, people say that their code is under the same terms as Perl itself. But no creator of tools has any power over the artefacts created using those tools. Bill Gates doesn't get any royalties from books written in MessWord, and you can bet on it that he'd try if he thought he could. I'm guessing that your concern is down to the campaign against the GPL that Redmond has been waging for years. They have been claiming that by using GPL software, you lose rights to your own creations. This is nothing but FUD. Terry Pratchett has invented the term "Deja Moo", meaning "I have heard this bull before". It applies here. Whatever Redmond want you to fear, you have absolute rights over your own creations. Even if you didn't, Tim Toady's pronouncements on the link I started with make it clear that, using Perl, you would. Regards, John Davies	[reply]
Re^2: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by patcat88 (Deacon) on Oct 25, 2011 at 12:10 UTC
Actually not always. http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/does_google_have_rights_to_all.php and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Photoshop_Express#Terms_of_Use You'll often find license agreements which state that the output of the program, your image, is owned by the maker of the software since your image is a derivative of the software and therefore the copyright is owned by the maker. I dont think this has ever been enforced in any court, and the bad PR would ban the maker's software from every corporation in the world, so no maker dares enforce it.	[reply]
Re^3: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by moritz (Cardinal) on Oct 25, 2011 at 12:18 UTC
Well, you don't find such clauses in open source licences Perl 6 - second systems done right	[reply]
Re^4: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by Corion (Patriarch) on Oct 25, 2011 at 13:09 UTC
Re^5: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by moritz (Cardinal) on Oct 25, 2011 at 13:30 UTC
Some notes below your chosen depth have not been shown here
Re^3: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by davies (Prior) on Oct 25, 2011 at 13:12 UTC
Well, IANAL, but I can't imagine that sort of clause standing up in court in the UK. Despite what makes a good story for the newspapers, UK judges tend to apply common sense, especially in common law, which covers most of contract. They would put such clauses on a par with a saw manufacturer claiming rights over chairs. There is some statute law, but that tends to protect consumers, for example http://www.oft.gov.uk/about-the-oft/legal-powers/legal/unfair-terms/. But other countries will differ. Regards, John Davies Update: fixed minor typo Update 31/5/12: An example of case law has just appeared: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/899768-boy-5-made-50-000-loss-on-spread-betting-website Update 6/6/13: A critique of on line terms under EU law has been published by the British Broadcorping Castration: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22772321 Update 2015-10-04 And if the Ts & Cs aren't clear, they aren't valid. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/household-bills/11906547/Its-official-you-dont-have-to-read-the-Ts-and-Cs.html	[reply]
Re^2: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by perl.j (Pilgrim) on Oct 24, 2011 at 22:57 UTC
Thanks Davies! --perl.j	[reply]
Re: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by eyepopslikeamosquito (Archbishop) on Oct 24, 2011 at 21:29 UTC
I am looking to write a compiler in the Perl programming language. You might like to check out New Book: Exploring Programming Language Architecture in Perl which contains a link to this lulu book.	[reply]
Re: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by RichardK (Parson) on Oct 24, 2011 at 21:09 UTC
Of course you can :) Have a look at Parse::RecDescent for example	[reply]
Re: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by ikegami (Patriarch) on Oct 24, 2011 at 23:21 UTC
While the code and documentation is subject to copyright, and while the Perl logo is a registered trademark, neither prevent the implementation of a Perl parser or compiler. As such, no license is needed. I can't find any protection for the name "Perl", so you could even use Perl in your product name. It would be more polite to go the "Foo: A Perl Compiler" route, though. Since you asked about licences, there are three publicly available. Perl is distributed using two licenses: the Perl Artistic License and the GNU General Public License. Again, neither are relevant, since you're not asking to distribute Perl's code and documentation. The terms for use of the trademarked logo are found here, although there is a blatant lie on that page. ("Anyone who uses any Perl mark is required to comply with these use guidelines")	[reply]
Re: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by ww (Archbishop) on Oct 24, 2011 at 23:39 UTC
The node above, where you refer to license is a clarifier. But it should have been in the OP, originally. Instead, you originally posted this: "Does anything restrict me from doing this? What would I need to do to find this out?" But now the mention of a license raises two other questions: Do you not know that no license is required to use Perl for whatever you wish? and, Is it your desire to write a compiler for an existing language or to write a compiler for a new language of your own devising? Please, make your questions precise and complete ... ...and please, don't update a node (especially one with replies) without a clear note explaining what you changed!	[reply]
Re: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by Anonymous Monk on Oct 25, 2011 at 07:25 UTC
license http://perldoc.perl.org/perlartistic.html http://perldoc.perl.org/perlgpl.html GNU General Public License http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-1.0.html Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU Licenses The GNU General Public License v3.0 - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)	[reply]
Re: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by ww (Archbishop) on Oct 24, 2011 at 21:14 UTC
<UPDATE:> OP has added language to the parent since this reply was posted. See Re: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl?; "restrict" was originally unrestricted by reference to "license". </UPDATE> ...restrict? Ignorance? ...find out? Study, research ¹, try it. ¹ Where "research" ne "ask for a global answer that involves no study or research on your part."	[reply]
Re^2: Am I Allowed to Make a New Compiler/Language using Perl? by perl.j (Pilgrim) on Oct 24, 2011 at 21:27 UTC
I'm not sure I understand. I actually did research and found nothing. And by restrict I mean by a license possibly. --perl.j	[reply]

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