[Python-ideas] Decimal literal?

[Chris Rebert]

On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 2:50 AM, Raymond Hettinger <python at rcn.com> wrote:
> From: "Raymond Hettinger"
>>
>> Last time I looked, the existing C implementations out there were license
>> compatible with Python.
>
> That should have said "incompatible".
>

decNumber is available under the ICU License, which seems to be a
variant of the original BSD license. Depending on exactly how the
acknowledgement clause is interpreted (IANAL), it seems like it might
be compatible. If not, IBM, which has copyright on decNumber, seems to
have a fairly pro-open-source stance historically; perhaps if asked
nicely by the community, they would be willing to relicense decNumber
under the revised BSD license (a very minor change vs. the ICU
License), which would certainly be compatible with Python's licensing
policy.

Or maybe there exists another library that's already compatible.
Perhaps I'll investigate.

But the key here is we should first determine whether people want
decimal to be built-in and have a literal. Once that's established,
then the details as to implementing that should be investigated. But
yes, practicality and feasibility certainly are factors in all this.

Cheers,
Chris

-- 
Follow the path of the Iguana...
http://rebertia.com