RE: [Help-gsl] Source code for HiCalc / breah of GPL for GSL

[Li, Timothy - BLS]

-- Just a comment --

I suspect HiCalc will drop using the GSL and implement numerical
algorithms by themselves. Inverting matrices is not a challenge to even
an average programmer today, but given out their source code would be
too much of a financial loss to them. I don't see any function in HiCalc
can not live without GSL. 

By listing GSL on HiCalc about box in a way promotes the popularity of
GSL, why not just leave it the way it is.

Timothy 

-----Original Message-----
From: address@hidden
[mailto:address@hidden On Behalf Of Dr.
David Kirkby
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 1:55 PM
To: Brian Gough
Cc: address@hidden
Subject: Re: [Help-gsl] Source code for HiCalc / breah of GPL for GSL

Brian Gough wrote:

> Thanks for the information, I was not aware of this ---

Glad to be of help.

> I will start
> the process for investigating and resolving a license violation.

OK. One assumes this breach is unintentional, since they made no effort
to hide the fact they are using GSL.

But even so the code should be released under the GPL now. There are not
IMHO any decent scientific calculators for Pocket PC, but perhaps if
this was released under the GPL there will be some effort to produce
one.

Some of the program (parts I assume use GSL) for solving 3 simultaneous
equations and matrix operations are are quite nice and not common on
scientific calculators.

Other parts, such as biorhythms and a calculator to find how much each
person in a group pay for a tip in a restaurant are just stupid. I think
the GSL stuff adds quite a bit to this calculator.

Perhaps if it is GPL'ed we could improve on some of the things it does
well and remove some parts which are of very questionable use. All
things that make open-source software good.


--
Dr. David Kirkby


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