Swiss Ephemeris AutoTools
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FAQ
What is Swiss Ephemeris AutoTools?
The Swiss Ephemeris AutoTools replaces the original Swiss Ephemeris
build system, (a GNU Makefile), with an AutoTools build system.
Then Swiss Ephemeris AutoTools is a fork of the Swiss Ephemeris?
Not really. All the original .c and .h files are unchanged. The
packager feels not competent to change these. The original Makefile is
replaced with an AutoTools setup. The most you could say is that Swiss
Ephemeris AutoTools is a fork of the Swiss Ephemeris build system.
If the .c and .h files are unchanged why are they available under
the Swiss Ephemeris Autotools subversion repository?
So developers may conveniently find all the necessary files in one
place and to follow the GPL.
How is the Swiss Ephemeris AutoTools licensed?
The GPLv2+. The original Swiss
Ephemeris is also available under some a proprietary license. If
you requires such a license go directly to the Swiss Ephemeris upstream
source
do not pass go do not collect $200. The person creating the AutoTools
modifications is only licensed under the GPL. Free Software For Ever!
Without freedom we have nothing!
Who is responsible for the Swiss Ephemeris AutoTools?
The Swiss Ephemeris Source code was made by Dieter Koch and Alois
Treindl of Astrodienst.
The
modifications to the Swiss Ephemeris build system was made by Paul Elliott.
What does the Swiss Ephemeris AutoTools hope to accomplish?
To get the Swiss Ephemeris into a format where it can be easily
packaged and accepted by the various GNU/Linux distributions.
Why is it important to get the Swiss Ephemeris into the various
GNU/Linux distributions?
Almost all GNU/Linux distributions have a requirement that a package
can not staticlly link to a library that can be used by more than one
program especially if that library was written by someone else. The
following Free Software/Open Software astrology programs link directly
to the Swiss Ephemeris: Skylendar and Maitreya. There are Swiss
Ephemeris extension modules for python, perl, and PHP.
The
programs OpenAstro, AstroWS, Morinus, and Oborboros use the python
module to
access the Swiss Ephemeris. I am not aware of a single free software or
open software astrology program that runs natively under GNU/Linux that
does not link directly or indirectly to the Swiss Ephemeris. Under
existing rules none of these program can be made part of a GNU
Linux distribution that does not include the Swiss Ephemeris. Please
write me if you know of any other programs that run natively under GNU
Linux and use the Swiss Ephemeris.
What is the Status of Swiss Ephemeris AutoTools?
It basically works when used according to instructions. Packages have
been build on open build service. Both the Swiss Ephermeris and its standard data have entered Debian unstable.
Superficial testing has been done and the resulting libraries appear to
work.
How do I get the source for Swiss Ephemeris AutoTools?
You can check it out using subversion:
svn
checkout svn://svn.gna.org/svn/swissephauto/trunk/libswe-1.77.00/
Or you can browse the
source in subversion. After it has been tested some more I will
make a release.
There is also a project for the Swiss Ephemeris Standard Data.
This is basicly just a copy of the standard data, i.e. the commonly
used .se1 files, and a do nothing Makefile so that "make install" knows
where to put the data, together with the necessary copyright files.
svn
checkout svn://svn.gna.org/svn/swissephauto/trunk/swe-standard-data/
You can also browse the
source for the Swiss Ephemeris Data.
