[IPOL discuss] question about libraries

[Nicolas Limare]

[just repeating what I said, because a written trace is always good]

> Regarding image magick, It could be easily replaced, but I'm more
> worried about GSL. I'm sure many authors will need statistical
> functions, and GSL provides them (among other many things); and it is
> well documented, well supported and has stable implementations. I've
> been using this library without any compiling problems for years.
> Could you guys discuss among you if it makes sense to include it?

GSL documentation[1] says
«GSL is a mature library with a stable API. The main emphasis is on
ensuring the stability of the existing functions, tidying up and
fixing any bugs that are reported. Potential contributors are
encouraged to gain familiarity with the library by investigating and
fixing known problems in the BUGS database.

To maintain stability, any new functionality is encouraged as
packages, built on top of GSL and maintained independently by their
authors, as in other free software projects. The design of GSL permits
extensions to be used alongside the existing library easily by simple
linking.» 

So, I feel it's a very reliable building block. Moreover, the design
guidelines[2] show they enforce clean design and high-quality code,
strict compilation, portability, ...

But for all that, I'd like not to be the only one to decide. I'm
setting up a tools server, with mailing lists, and I'd like all these
decisions to come through a consensus. I hope we'll have these lists
next week.

Last detail: GSL promotes code re-use[3] when possible, often via
grabbing a source file and including it into another code. This may be
a simpler solution for users, if the algorithms allow.

And GSL is packaged for Windows[4], everything is fine.


[1]http://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/
[2]http://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/design/gsl-design_toc.html
[3]http://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/design/gsl-design.html#SEC10
[4]http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/gsl.htm

-- 
Nicolas LIMARE
http://nicolas.limare.net/                         pgp:0xFA423F4F
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