-----Original Message----- From: boost-bounces@lists.boost.org [mailto:boost-bounces@lists.boost.org] On Behalf Of Stefan Seefeld Sent: 20 March 2009 22:46 To: boost@lists.boost.org Subject: Re: [boost] Can a Boost library use a component like GMP and mfpr that have a LGPL license ?
Is there any reason to require boost to be self-contained ? Why can't it depend on external libraries for some cases, especially if those libraries are already freely available and hugely popular, thus the chances that they are already present are high. I agree that it would be good not to expose this dependency through the API, though, so if it got replaced, API compatibility would be maintainable.
You mean, the way Boost.Regex can be configured to use IBM's ICU library for handling Unicode? And Boost.Python requires Python?
Yes, there are certainly lots of examples of external dependencies.
I understand that there are dependencies, but are those libraries being used in items that are being *sold*? Lots of people are no doubt using Boost.Python, but are they selling products using it? The proposed GTL sounds to me as though it is a prime candidate for inclusion in actual 'Sat-Navy' products. Does this make any difference? Paul --- Paul A. Bristow Prizet Farmhouse Kendal, UK LA8 8AB +44 1539 561830, mobile +44 7714330204 pbristow@hetp.u-net.com