[development] replace drupal.js with prototype.js?

Larry Garfield larry at garfieldtech.com
Thu Nov 17 05:28:41 UTC 2005


Um, I really don't want to start a license flame war here, but claiming that 
we shouldn't use code under a less restrictive license than the GPL even if 
it's legal because that author didn't choose the Holy GPL goes beyond 
arrogant to asinine.  The Linux kernel uses BSD networking code quite 
happily, for instance, and not even Stallman has a problem with that.

An MIT/BSD/esque library, included into Drupal and distributed with it, is 
distributed by Drupal under the GPL.  It's 100% legal and 100% Free Software 
compliant.  vrms would be perfectly happy with it. :-)

I've not used Prototype so I cannot speak to its technical qualities, but from 
a legal/licensing standpoint there's really no legitimate dispute if it's 
MIT-esque licensed.

On Wednesday 16 November 2005 03:13 pm, Gordon Heydon wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Even though they are compatible, the basic thing is that only GPL'ed
> software is allowed in drupal. This is not a compatibility issue, but
> more the philosophy of drupal.
>
> Gordon.
>
> On Wed, 2005-11-16 at 08:55 -0800, Colin Brumelle wrote:
> > I believe the two licenses are compatible.
> > See:
> > http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/license-list.html#GPLCompatibleLicenses
> >
> >
> >
> > On 11/16/05, Ber Kessels <ber at webschuur.com> wrote:
> >         prototype is not GPL, it is MIT. we only allow GPL. I think
> >         this is a big problem.
> >
> >         Ber
> >
> >         On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 15:23:23 -0800
> >
> >         Colin Brumelle <colin at bryght.com> wrote:
> >         > I've done some work with Prototype, and have found it to be
> >
> >         really well
> >
> >         > thought out. I would love to see Drupal standardise on this
> >
> >         package for
> >
> >         > adding AJAX functionality. Prototypes inclusion in Rails
> >
> >         also offers some
> >
> >         > guarantees that it will be around for a while, developed
> >
> >         further, and
> >
> >         > maintained.
> >         >
> >         > +1 from me...

-- 
Larry Garfield			AIM: LOLG42
larry at garfieldtech.com		ICQ: 6817012

"If nature has made any one thing less susceptible than all others of 
exclusive property, it is the action of the thinking power called an idea, 
which an individual may exclusively possess as long as he keeps it to 
himself; but the moment it is divulged, it forces itself into the possession 
of every one, and the receiver cannot dispossess himself of it."  -- Thomas 
Jefferson


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