Dual-license developer Trolltech makes stock debut

Trolltech, a Norwegian company that makes graphical user interface software, launched its initial public offering on the Oslo stock exchange on Wednesday. Trolltech describes itself as a "dual-licence" company because some of its code is available under either the GNU General Public Licence or under a closed-source licence. By going down the GPL line, a developer can use the code for free but must release its own source code under the GPL.

Co-founder Eirik Chambe-Eng said: "I think open source really is here to stay, and with the mechanisms we're seeing right now, I have a hard time seeing any company being successful delivering any kind of software infrastructure without being open source."

David Meyer reported for ZDNet UK in London. Click here for the full story.

[qwerty75]

The problem with Trolltech

Is not their products, but their licensing and pricing. QT4 is outrageously expensive, and forcing those using the open source versions to open source their products is beyond lame. It is like having to open source your work because you compiled it on gcc.

wxWidgets allows you to do what you please with your work, is always free and a great cross-platform library, although not quite as mature as QT. The price difference more then makes up for it.

[orfeu_niko]

O matter of choice

QT is expensive, maybe, for me that is a sure thing. But it is a very good framework, and there are people actually buying it, so they must do something right :).

[qwerty75]

The problem with Trolltech

Is not their products, but their licensing and pricing. QT4 is outrageously expensive, and forcing those using the open source versions to open source their products is beyond lame. It is like having to open source your work because you compiled it on gcc.

wxWidgets allows you to do what you please with your work, is always free and a great cross-platform library, although not quite as mature as QT. The price difference more then makes up for it.

[orfeu_niko]

O matter of choice

QT is expensive, maybe, for me that is a sure thing. But it is a very good framework, and there are people actually buying it, so they must do something right :).