If I am writing non-free software and I want to involve GPL software to some degree, and I am not sure what my legal situation is with respect to whether the GPL allows me to distribute my code, should I ask the programming community what to do?
What are the chances that they give me sound legal advice for my country and locale? Should I just access the Free Software Foundation's licensing resources directly?
Thanks.
If money is involved, you should of course get professional advice from a lawyer, who will have liability insurance, unlike us folks on SO,
You should ask to get a better understanding of the various meanings and hotly debated points, but in the end you should get an attorney to help you. Reviewing the FSF's licensing resources is a great idea.
All legal advice you get for free on the Internet is worth exactly what you pay for it.
Should I ask online programming communities like Stack Overflow for licensing advice?
NO.
You should ask the owner of the software about their license, or retain a lawyer. The 'community' doesn't know, and most frequently answers "Get a lawyer."