[IPython-dev] IPython pyreadline improvement of IPython

[Fernando Perez]

Robert Kern wrote:
> Fernando Perez wrote:
> 
> 
>>Well, the point is that since we'd be writing our _own_ readline, the license 
>>of the FSF readline wouldn't matter: we wouldn't be using it.  If such an 
>>effort were successful across platforms, core python could take our own 
>>readline to replace their bindings to FSF-readline without fear.  The problem 
>>is the 'viral' nature of the GPL: technically, Python _may_ be in violation of 
>>the GPL by using readline and Python not being ALL GPL.
> 
> 
> That's not how the GPL works. That's not even how the FSF thinks the GPL works. Oy.

Well, that seems to be how python-dev is worried it might be interpreted, 
unless _I_ misunderstood something (quite possible, given how 
low-level-legal-detail this discussion can get).  But the point remains that 
there ARE worries in python-dev about the status of readline, so having a plan 
  B strikes me as a good thing (tm).

Cheers,

f