I deploy an interactive software using Java Web Start. This is a quiet useful deployment technology and I don't want to change. Besides I am about to publish my software under a GNU GPL license. Usually, when a user installs a new software he is asked to read the license terms and accept it. Is there any equivalent process with Java Web Start ? How can I ask my user to accept the license terms before using it ?
How to deploy a GNU GPL software with Java Web Start?
licensing;gpl
Usually, when a user installs a new software he is asked to read the license terms and accept it. Is there any equivalent process with Java Web Start ? How can I ask my user to accept the license terms before using it ?The GPL is not an EULA the end-user needs to accept (e.g. by ticking a check-box). Some software packages that ship with an installer do this but it is not necessary (and this probably created a wrong impression and made you asking). All you need to ensure (when you distribute your GPL'ed software) is that you pass along the license-text with the software and make clear that you license the software under GPL.Apart from that, Java Web Start probably is not the best way to distribute FLOSS as of now. I strongly suggest you to file a report/feature request with the Issue-Tracker of that software telling them exactly what you do and what you need. E.g. so that you can pass licensing information and more importantly offer sources along with the object code loaded by Java Web Start.See as well:If I embed a GPL 2 Java applet into my web app, do I have to release the web app source?