Now that iText has gone AGPL, I'm assuming someone is going to take the old (2.1.7 or 4.2.0) code and fork it to keep an LGPL version going. Does anyone know of such a fork already started?
+1
A:
The old versions will still be there. Given that most of the development for Itext has been from Bruno and a couple of others who will be putting there stuff into the new version, is there any point? Who is going to develop the fork?
mark stephens
2010-07-02 07:23:43
I expect a lot of desire for an LGPL or otherwise commercial code compatible license. I think Bruno had solid reasons for doing what he did (especially poignant is the story of how companies pushed him to fix things while he was dealing with his son's illness), I still think plenty of people have an interest in seeing an LGPL version live on.
Yishai
2010-07-02 13:59:23
YOu can get a commercial license from bruno as well as AGPL and support all his work.
mark stephens
2010-07-03 08:00:38
+1
A:
I discussed some practical issues with the iText AGPL license in my blog (which is linked from my SO profile). Why not just buy IText? It is certainly an option among many commercial PDF libraries out there, although they really need to standardize their pricing against the competition.
The truth is I never really used iText much in the past. It always either lacked certain features, or the API was much more difficult than other (non-free) alternatives to wrap your head around, especially for minimal PDF manipulation (rather than the level of PDF manipulation required to generate a report, for example).
At this point the only similarly licenced PDF library I know of is ICEPdf, which is under the MPL 1.1 license, but its business model is to have a more limited version and charge for more advanced features (such as more font support).
Yishai
2010-07-22 20:34:01
+1
A:
There are a number of problems with your request:
- The list of people who can maintain an iText fork is fairly short. I happen to be one of them. ;)
- The list of people who can maintain an iText fork and are willing to take a dump on Bruno's efforts to finally make some money from iText is (thus far) zero. I am certainly not one of them.
So there are lots of folks floating around who would love some free (little 'f') code for their commercial app. They can use 2.1.7 and deal with any bugs (and a cold shoulder on the itext mailing list), go it alone, share their source, or shell out some money.
(And yes, I realize the hypocrisy of maintaining an MPL fork while encouraging others to pony up some dough. I've tried to do that with my own company, but my efforts thus far have not born fruit.)
Mark Storer
2010-10-21 00:18:38