[GRASS-dev] gmath and gpde update

[Moritz Lennert]

On 11/01/09 22:32, Moritz Lennert wrote:
> On 11/01/09 14:02, Glynn Clements wrote:
>> Moritz Lennert wrote:
>>
>>>> Meschach is implemented in C and is able to replace the gmath 
>>>> library completely with much better implementations.
>>>> I have integrated meschach into grass for testing purposes and, 
>>>> after some very basic testing, it works nicely.
>>>> But im unsure if the licence of meschach is compatible with the GPL? 
>>>> Can somebody please verify this? Im not an expert in licensing.
>>> This seems to be the relevant part:
>>
>>> "The source code is available to be perused, used and passed on without
>>> cost, while ensuring that the quality of the software is not 
>>> compromised."
>>>
>>> There is no mention of modification, and the second half of the 
>>> sentence ("while ensuring that the quality of the software is not 
>>> compromised") sounds quite suspicious to me. So, without claiming any 
>>> expert knowledge either, I would be sceptical.
>>
>> Where did you find that? 
> 
> http://www.netlib.org/c/meschach/readme
> 
>> It appears to contradict:
>>
>> http://packages.debian.org/changelogs/pool/main/m/meschach/current/copyright 

The Debian version is what's in the copyright file in the source code 
available here:

http://www.math.uiowa.edu/~dstewart/meschach/mesch12b.tar.gz

So, sorry for the confusion, no contradiction (just an unclear readme file).

However, is

** Everyone is granted permission to copy, modify and redistribute this
** Meschach Library, provided:
[...]
**  3.  No charge is made for this software or works derived from it.
**      This clause shall not be construed as constraining other software
**      distributed on the same medium as this software, nor is a
**      distribution fee considered a charge.


GPL-compatible ?

Moritz