Microcontrollers and the GNU Public License (GPL)

Open Source software is released according to the terms of the GNU Public License, GPL. The GPL is intended to guarantee your rights to use, modify and copy the subject software. Along with the rights comes an obligation. If you modify and subsequently distribute software covered by the GPL, you are obligated to make available the modified source code. The changes become a “derivative work” which is also subject to the terms of the GPL. This allows other users to understand the software better and to make further changes if they wish.

This works well for most software but there is at least one problem. Suppose, for example, that you write a clever application that you wish to keep proprietary. If you link it with a C library covered by the GPL, your application becomes a derivative work and thus you’re required to distribute your source code.

To get around this, and therefore promote the development of Open Source libraries, the Free Software Foundation came up with the “Library GPL.” The distinction is that a program linked to a library covered by the LGPL is not considered a derivative work and so there’s no requirement to distribute the source, although you must still distribute the source to the library itself.
Subsequently, the LGPL became known as the “Lesser GPL” because it offers less freedom to the user. So while the LGPL makes it possible to develop proprietary products using Open Source software, the FSF encourages developers to place their libraries under the GPL in the interest of maximizing openness.

Here is a list of GPL software for microcontroller developers.

• SDCC: a Freeware, retargettable, optimizing ANSI - C compiler that targets the Intel 8051, Maxim 80DS390, Zilog Z80 and the Motorola 68HC08 based MCUs (GPL)


• GNUPIC: a collect of GNU software for PIC microcontrollers


• WinAVR: a suite of executable, open source software development tools for the Atmel AVR series on the Windows


• GNUARM: GNU toolchain ARM microcontrollers