Eljay,
>so even if we don't dsitribute a release version of our software with profiling code, using profiling while developing the software infects our source.
Your statement contradicts the statement you posted from the MinGW FAQ. (I don't know which is correct.)
yes, it contradicts and i either don't know which is correct (when applied to GCC not MinGW e.g.), which exactly is the point that makes me think twice.
i've just learned (from the GPL FAQ) that the GPL'ed Bison parser generator embeds own code into executables .. but FSF made an _explicit_ exception within the Bison license to avoid proliferation of GPL terms into resulting artifacts. from my understanding, the FSF seems to decide on those exceptions on a case by case basis (depending on whether a proprietary replacement for the FSF software exists). this is great, but in general it means i'm betting on FSF's future decisions in this area (GNU tools generating/embedding code into artifacts) which obviously i can't influence. no FUD intended - just want to get clear myself.
Cheers, Tobias
