[AstroPy] astropy in Debian, Scientific Linux?

[Scott Ransom]

On 04/07/2013 11:35 PM, Tim Jenness wrote:
>
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 7, 2013 at 5:22 PM, Tom Aldcroft
> <aldcroft at head.cfa.harvard.edu <mailto:aldcroft at head.cfa.harvard.edu>>
> wrote:
>
>
>     I wonder if it might be worth trying again with SOFA.  Things are a
>     little different now since at this point there are real users that are
>     unable to use our (and their) software because of their license.  This
>     is very frustrating.
>
>     I wonder if we could organize a petition in support of modifying the
>     SOFA license to something more consistent with typical community
>     standards.  I mean the IAU is supposed to be representing and
>     benefiting astronomers, no?
>
>
> The irony is that the SOFA library was written precisely because the IAU
> felt that there should be a solid astrometry library available to the
> community. I can't speak for them but I get the impression that they
> feel they are trying hard for this to be usable by everyone and don't
> understand why everyone who wants to use it is upset about the license.
>  From what I recall the sticking points are entirely around forking and
> damaging the IAU reputation by local patching although I think that much
> of what they want can be done by copyright enforcement rather than
> licensing.
>
> Concrete examples of how people are actively deciding not to use the
> code because of the license might help.

I agree with this.  I know one or two member of the SOFA board fairly 
well and have mentioned this to them.  I think we (along with other 
pressure) can help bring them around -- which is a worthwhile thing to do.

Scott

-- 
Scott M. Ransom            Address:  NRAO
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