[PyX-devel] licensing question

[Alan G I. <ai...@am...>]

Everyone who writes code is entitled to choose their 
license. Of course.

I use two Python graphics packages, both of which are lovely 
and have differing virtues: PyX and Matplotlib.  Both are 
free and open source software, with helpful developers who 
show a sustained commitment to free and open source 
software.  But Matplotlib uses the Python license and PyX 
uses the GPL.

I recently suggested to a Matplotlib developer that 
a certain PyX TeX functionality might synergistically 
combine with some Matplotlib functionality, with two 
benefits:
- Matplotlib would improve its TeX support
- this would potentially increase the total development 
  effort on this part of the code base

The response I got was that the PyX developers have not 
indicated a willingness to license the relevant code under 
the Python license (or another liberal license, such as BSD 
or MIT).

I have mostly a user's perspective, but I have actually 
thought a fair amount about licensing issues.  I cannot see 
a downside for PyX to offering to relicense the relevant 
code; just the opposite in fact.  I am therefore posting 
this appeal to the PyX developers to consider whether the 
lack of downsides and the possible advantages of such 
cooperation might not justify relicensing or dual licensing 
the relevant code.

Alan Isaac

PS I am happy to carry messages between lists in hope of 
make headway, if that would be useful.