> Suddenly, all my knowledge and experience of GPL-ed libraries goes to waste, as I won't be able to use any of that to help my friend.
Help me understand this please. In what legal way is GPL obstructing you as opposed to say an MIT or a BSD license.
GPL license has noting against use in a proprietary setting, its only if GPL'ed software is being sold/distributed, that it is required that the source and the changes be made available as GPL. Google uses GPL'ed software all the time and is far from the only one.
Only if you are distributing/selling the software to others. If you and your friend are using it as a company internal tool, GPL has no issues with that.
Help me understand this please. In what legal way is GPL obstructing you as opposed to say an MIT or a BSD license.
GPL license has noting against use in a proprietary setting, its only if GPL'ed software is being sold/distributed, that it is required that the source and the changes be made available as GPL. Google uses GPL'ed software all the time and is far from the only one.