>> Also, I have some concerns about the code for >> NodeCachingLinkedList. It looks like a lot of the code has been copied >> from Sun's LinkedList implementation. If I understand correctly, this >> makes the code unsuitable for inclusion in an Apache project. > > I didn't know about these sorts of restrictions. I've looked around the > Apache site and can't find any information on this-- you should've > posted a link to whatever you were referring. Now, I have to say that > Sun doesn't have a patent on the linked-list data structure, which is > probably going to be implemented the same way over and over again if it > adheres to the List interface. If I were to rewrite LinkedList, I would > include an inner ListIterator class, etc. I would track modifications > with a number variable at the class level. Would it make you feel > better if I renamed variables? > > The point is that Java doesn't have a patent on the workings of any data > structures in the Java language (and I've never seen a patent for a data > structure anyway, although it would be possible to get one). They have > copyrights on everything they release. Maybe we should investigate > ASF's liability with regards to all code implementing interfaces or > extending classes in the Java API. Maybe it would be good enough > document things like this: > > /** implements the LinkedList(c) interface from Sun Microsystems, Inc. > */ > > By the way, your trie implementation is sucky and guaranteed to be slow. > Have a nice day.
Please don't take my comment as a personal attack--your implementation is good and I'm not sure if there is a legal problem here. I was just checking it past the list. My (layperson) understanding says that we should check it out carefully. Despite the fact that a linked list is a common data structure and despite the fact that we've got a license to use the API, I don't think we're allowed to redistribute the source code. Hopefully someone familiar with licensing issues can tell us whether there is anything to worry about. Rich -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For additional commands, e-mail: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
