Masahiro Nakagawa and SHOO invited to join Phobos developers

[Andrei Alexandrescu]

On 04/30/2010 03:07 PM, Moritz Warning wrote:
> On Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:12:53 -0500, Andrei Alexandrescu wrote:
>
>> On 04/30/2010 08:55 AM, Moritz Warning wrote:
>>> On Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:07:06 -0400, Steven Schveighoffer wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:02:32 -0400, Moritz Warning
>>>> <moritzwarning at web.de>   wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> have you thought about just asking the authors of the Tango code in
>>>>> question?
>>>>> I would imagine they would say that they only see a minor resemblance
>>>>> in the api and asking wouldn't even be necessary from their point of
>>>>> view.
>>>>>
>>>> One of the major authors of the Tango time module, John Chapman,
>>>> cannot be located so until he is and agrees the proposed Phobos time
>>>> module cannot be accepted."
>>>>
>>>> -Steve
>>>
>>> Well, then let's point this out (we need to contact JC, that's the
>>> problem at heart).
>>> All the blaming doesn't help anyone.
>>
>> Moritz, I think there is a misunderstanding somewhere.
>>
>> Following SHOO's request to add his date/time to Phobos, Walter received
>> a phone call at home from a Tango representative. The representative
>> stated that the Tango team (of which five people worked on the date/time
>> code) finds that code infringing upon their license, which would make
>> Phobos infringing if it accepted said code.
>>
>>
>> Andrei
>
> Hi Andrei,
>
> thanks for the reply.
> I don't know how the phone call was worded, of course.
> Nor can I speak for the caller.
> Whatever, from my point of view, the message should have been
> that Phobos probably has problems with the code due it's high license
> awarenes and they could solve the issue by just asking A, B and C to be
> sure.
> Even those authors probably don't even think it would have been necessary
> in this case.
>
> The call should have been intended to help Phobos without interfering
> with the authors rights.
>
> If it really had the "you steal our code" undertone you describe, then
> it's quite unfortunate, but does not represent what at least most Tango
> contributers think.

It did, and (as unfortunately exemplified by Steve) it doesn't quite 
matter what some of Tango contributers think. I will leave it to Walter 
to disclose the actual words used if he finds it appropriate. They are 
not light.

Historically Walter has been very quiet regarding this and similar 
dealings, and I have respected that. We both despise politics, and my 
perception is that this attitude is common to the other Phobos 
developers. His overly nice and non-political attitude has led to the 
odd situation where he is consistently framed as the bad guy, even in 
this situation which is as clear cut as it could ever get. Maybe the 
time has come for the truth to come forth.

> Has anyone bothered to ask the authors?
> It matters.

I don't know.


Andrei