From: Jim Cain <list@...>
Date: 2003-07-09T10:18:05+09:00
Subject: Re: My brief and torrid affair with Ruby.

Ray Cote wrote:

> Hi List:
> 
> I've been a lurker here for about two weeks. In that time, I've been 
> installing Ruby on a number of machines (Mac, Linux, Windows) and 
> generally having a grand time exploring Ruby and telling anyone who will 
> sit still for 3 seconds what a great language it is.
> 
> Since there's been a recent thread on how to make Ruby more popular, I 
> thought I'd mention why Ruby's popularity came to a screeching halt this 
> evening. In one word: "Licenses."
> 
> Coming from a background of using Perl and some Python, I've become 
> quite casual in expecting a certain consistency of licenses within the 
> community. Perl and Python modules tend to be distributed under the same 
> license as the base language.
> 
> This approach seems less consistent in the Ruby community.
> 
> Specifically, I just happened to look at the source code in DBI.rb and 
> Oracle.rb and was astonished to discover that these modules are GPL. 
> Then I quickly found trace.rb, and proxy.rb were GPL as well.
> 
> Now, if I can get through the next section without flames please. :}
> 
> I use Perl and Python to build commercial products for my own company 
> and for clients.
> Most of the applications I'm building are database-driven.
> For me, DBI is a core functionality.
> Unfortunately, until Ruby provides a non-GPL alternative I need to go 
> back to Perl or Python.
> 
> Does this mean I'm giving up on Ruby?
> Absolutely not.
> It is a great language and I'm going to have some fun using it.
> I hope I can contribute some things to the community as well.
> I'm just not going to be able to use it commercially for any of my 
> products.
> 
> In summary, inconsistent licensing is the primary reason we're not going 
> to be using Ruby around here.
> I look forward to hearing the lists comments on this.
> I know there's be a few. :}
> --Ray
> 
> 

I'm currently writing a Ruby library for accessing Oracle9i, and I've 
released it under the Artistic License. I released the first "preview" 
version last week. It's available here:

http://jimcain.us/ruby9i

I will be releasing another version this week. If you are concerned 
about licensing issues with the DBI, my library can also be accessed 
with its native, low-level API, which is really not low-level, just not 
DBI-compliant.