Subject: static vs. dynamic - gimp

From: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 16:44:15 -0700

Hello all.
     
     I would like to install gimp.
     
     Pardon my ignorance ...
     I see that there are two versions.
     
     gimp-dmotif (dynamic)
     vs.
     gimp-smotif (static)
     
     I am using a standard debian install with X, tcp/ip ...
     
     I would like to know :
     
        q1 - how do I know if I can use the static version?
     
        q2 - given a choice between both, what version would be "better or
             faster ...". Are there any pros and/or cons to choosing one or 
             the other when both are valid options for a given machine 
     (i.e..         speed vs. size ... )?
     
     Thanx in advance ...
     
     Keep up the good work - it is greatly appreciated.

---

From: Rob Browning <[email-masked]>
Date: 11 Sep 1996 20:03:32 -0500

>      gimp-dmotif (dynamic)

Use this one if you have purchased and installed Motif on your computer.

>      gimp-smotif (static)

Use this one otherwise.

--
Rob

---

From: Buddha M Buck <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 21:14:15 -0400 (EDT)

>         q1 - how do I know if I can use the static version?

You can use the static version.  Whether or not you want to is another
story. 

The difference is in how the two packages are linked.  Gimp requires
the use of the Motif libraries.  However, the Motif libraries have
restrictive distribution requirements.  You must pay money for the
shared version of the Motif libraries, but it is perfectly acceptable
to distribute programs linked statically with the Motif libraries.

The tradeoff is memory -- each copy of the static libraries gets
loaded into memory for each statically linked program running, whereas
for the shared libraries, only one copy of the library is loaded into
memory regardless of the number of programs using it.  In addition,
each executable statically linked has a copy of the library on disk,
as opposed to only one copy in the /usr/X11/lib directory.

So the static version can be used by anyone -- it doesn't require the
use of the costly shared Motif libraries.  The dynamic version is only
useful if you have the shared Motif libraries.

>      (i.e..         speed vs. size ... )?

If you -can- use the dynamic version, you probably should.  Since you
will probably be using other Motif applications (else why would you
have bought the libraries?), using shared libraries instead of static
libraries will give you more free memory, less swapping, etc.

However, if you -can't- use the dynamic version, then you need the
static version.

If you only have Debian stuff installed, then you don't have Motif
installed.  So in that case, you will need the static version.

---

From: Warwick HARVEY <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 11:26:15 +1000

>      gimp-smotif (static)

[...]

>      (i.e..         speed vs. size ... )?

The "problem" here is that Motif is commercial software, with a licence that
restricts certain kinds of distribution.  If Motif were free (and there are
efforts in progress to write a free version), then there would only be one
version of Gimp available - the dynamic one.

In brief:
	Have Motif licence         ->  Use dynamic version
	Do not have Motif licence  ->  Use static version or buy licence

The dynamic/static refers to how the program is linked with the Motif
libraries.  Dynamic means it is done at run-time, static means it is done at
compile-time.  Dynamic means the executable is much smaller, both on disk
(it need not include a copy of the library) and in memory (it can share a
copy of the library with other processes), but requires the user to have the
Motif libraries installed on their system.  Static means the executable is
much larger on disk, and cannot share a copy of the library in memory, but
means a user without the Motif libraries can run it.

This what I understand of how the licensing works (somebody please correct
me if I'm wrong).  To be able to use the dynamic version, you must have the
Motif libraries installed, which means you must have purchased a Motif
licence, because the libraries may not be distributed in standalone form.
However, the libraries may be distributed if they are statically linked in
with a program (which means they can't be re-linked with another program).
This licensing scheme means that developers are not discouraged from using
Motif for development (they can distribute a version which users can use
even without a Motif licence), but it also encourages users to obtain a
Motif licence (their programs will be able to share one copy of the library
on disk and in memory).

				Warwick

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warwick Harvey                                    email: [email-masked]
Department of Computer Science                        phone: +61-3-9287-9171
University of Melbourne                                 fax: +61-3-9348-1184
Parkville, Victoria, AUSTRALIA 3052     web: http://www.cs.mu.OZ.AU/~warwick

---

From: Shaya Potter <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 18:20:47 -0400 (EDT)

>      I see that there are two versions.

The Static version contains all the motif calls in it,

The Dynamic version needs motif shared libraries.

>         q1 - how do I know if I can use the static version?

		Yes.
>      (i.e..         speed vs. size ... )?

The dynamic version would be better if you are willing to pay $50-100 for 
motif