Re: [boost] Beta Distribution for boost::random

From: Paul A Bristow (pbristow_at_[hidden])
Date: 2007-12-11 04:27:24

>-----Original Message-----
>From: boost-bounces_at_[hidden] 
>[mailto:boost-bounces_at_[hidden]] On Behalf Of Jens Seidel
>Sent: 11 December 2007 07:43
>To: boost_at_[hidden]
>Subject: Re: [boost] Beta Distribution for boost::random
>
>On Mon, Dec 10, 2007 at 08:19:26PM -0800, Jeremy Bruestle wrote:
>> Hello, I have implemented support for the beta distribution for
>> boost::random.  I was wondering who I should send it to for 
>examination and
>> possible acceptance into boost?  The method is based on the paper
>> "Generating Beta Variates with Nonintegral Shape Parameters" (
>> http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=359460.359482) by R. 
>C. H. Cheng,
>> which was the best performing fully general purpose method I 
>could find.  It
>
>Mmh, the article contains:
>
>General permission to make fair use in teaching or research of
>all or part of this material is granted to individual readers and to
>nonprofit libraries acting for them provided that A C M ' s copyright
>notice is given and that reference is made to the publication, to its
>date of issue, and to the fact that reprinting privileges were granted
>by permission of the Association for Computing Machinery.
>
>Implementing an algorithm from the article is "fair use". But is Boost
>a nonprofit library? Consider that it can be used (also in parts) in
>commercial products!

FWIW, my opinion is that this is OK - no different from lots of similar use in Boost algorithms.  The original can't be in C++, so
it isn't a straight copy.

Patents are another can of worms...

But Boost has never claimed to take any responsibility for attack by 'patent trolls' - though authors and reviewers will avoid
knowingly using stuff that carries a risk of patent problems.

Paul

---
Paul A Bristow
Prizet Farmhouse, Kendal, Cumbria UK LA8 8AB
[phone] & SMS, Mobile [phone] & SMS
pbristow_at_[hidden]