Question about math.pi is mutable

[Michael Torrie]

On 11/10/2015 03:03 AM, Antoon Pardon wrote:
> Op 10-11-15 om 00:29 schreef Ben Finney:
>>
>> Who is doing what to whom? The user of the library isn't doing anything
>> to the library author, so what is it the library author would consent
>> to? Instead, you seem to be trying to assert a *power* of the library
>> author to restrict the library user. Such a power is not granted by
>> Python.
> 
> Python is not at liberty to grant or deny such a power. Python is just
> a vehicle in which code is written. The author of a library can restrict
> its use anyway he sees fit.

No he cannot, outside the bounds of copyright law.  Why would you think
otherwise?  The only document that binds the end user in any way is the
copyright license, unless some other formal contract has been arranged.

>> Instead, the library author is obliged to treat the library user as an
>> adult who consents to the freedoms inherent to Python's design, and to
>> not restrict their use of the library needlessly.
> 
> There is no such obligation. And if it was an obligation, you can hardly
> talk about consenting. Consenting adults mean that either party can
> decide on conditions. Once one party is obligated it is no longer consenting.

You are correct there is no obligation, but nor does Python empower the
library developer.   He may attempt obfuscation or other means to
control the use of his library of course, but only copyright grants him
legal authority of any kind.