Comments on: Zmanim Project

By: Bahaltener

Bahaltener — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:17:23 +0000

A sheynem dank!

I’ll start porting KosherJava API to C++ sometime soon I hope.

By: KosherJava

KosherJava — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:12:21 +0000

Sorry for the delay in responding. There are two reasons that the code was released under the GPL and not the LGPL. The first one is that the oldest calculation engine used by the API, the ZmanimCalculator class, my modification of Ken Bloom's code was released by him under the GPL. At this point, since I have another class, the SunTimesCalculator that returns the identical output and is not restricted to the GPL, this is no longer an issue, as long as this class is not included. The second one is that ideally, I would like people to release the entire app source, and thus the GPL, but I have as the code owner made some exceptions and in a few cases released the API to some developers under a non-transferable LGPL license. I would certainly allow the release of the C++ port to be released under the LGPL, and will consider a license change to the LGPL for the Java API in the future.

By: Bahaltener

Bahaltener — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:06:55 +0000

Any thoughts on licensing?

By: Bahaltener

Bahaltener — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:15:12 +0000

On a side note. Why did you use GPL specifically for your API? Since it is a library, would it be better to release it under LGPL or other more permissive license?

For example, let’s say there is a port of KosherJava to other language. I assume, since the original is under GPL (2 or higher) the port will be also under GPL2(+). GPL library can only be used in GPL (or compatible) licensed code I believe. Therefore not only closed source projects, but even open source ones which use GPL incompatible licenses (let’s say MPL, CDDL, EPL, etc.) will not be able to be linked with the library. (That’s why in general, libraries are released under more permissive licenses, like LGPL, FreeBSD, X11 etc.).

By: KosherJava

KosherJava — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:05:43 +0000

You may want to touch base with Moshe Wagner who used the Java Zmanim API in the Qt C++ based Luach. I posted details in the ZmanimCLI (Command Line Interface) post. Though he did not do a direct port, he would likely be interested. I would be happy to host any port.

By: Bahaltener

Bahaltener — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:36:37 +0000

It would be interesting to port it to C++. I’ll take a look at the code. boost date_time API: http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_41_0/doc/html/date_time.html provides a useful set of calendar operations. May be it can be utilized to cover what KosherJava is using from Timezone and GregorianCalendar classes.

By: KosherJava

KosherJava — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:36:47 +0000

Bahaltener,
while porting should not be complex, I am unaware of effort to port it to C++ at the moment. The only complex part would be the portions of the code that use the Java Timezone and GergorianCalendar classes.

By: Bahaltener

Bahaltener — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:18:13 +0000

Were there any efforts to port KosherJava API to C++?

Thanks.

By: KosherJava » Plans for a Zmanim API FAQ

KosherJava » Plans for a Zmanim API FAQ — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:19:59 +0000

[...] Zmanim Project [...]

By: Jack Cohen

Jack Cohen — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:35:28 +0000

Our shul is interested in featuring a display which among other things displays the countdown to the end of certain zmanim, such as
Countdown latest lime for:
Shema, Amida, Birkat Halevana, etc.

Since our shul has a great many late minyanim in the morning and continuous minyanim for Minha/Arvit, there is a great need for the people to know when these times occur.

We anticipate using LCD screens connected to a PC which will run the countdown clock among other messages (reminders for yaaleh v’yavo, hamelech hakadosh, etc.
Would you know anyone who would be able to help us with the programming of such an app?