Note, however, that the Pixie license does not allow you to give the Pixie.zip or PixiSlid.zip archives, or other parts of Pixie, to other people without making sure they can also get the source code. For example, if you put Pixie.zip onto a CDROM you should download and include PixieSrc.zip as well. So even non-programmers may need this page.
The source code for Pixie is published under the GNU Library General Public License. Briefly, this means you are free to modify it or redistribute it, provided that everyone who gets a copy of the executable can also get a copy of the source, and that they in turn have the same freedoms under the LGPL. It does not mean you are obliged to distribute your changes, nor that you cannot charge a fee for doing so.
You should read the license itself carefully before downloading the software. In particular, you should note that Pixie comes with NO WARRANTY. You are solely responsible for determining whether the software is suitable for your purposes.
I am quite proud of the Pixie format; it is much more compact than anything else I've seen yet it doesn't take much Java code to interpret it. I would like to see it adopted widely. Making the source available is one way to encourage its use.
I am using the LGPL rather than the GPL because it is more open. You can link LGPL code with other code without that other code having to be covered by the LGPL, provided a few restrictions are satisfied (see the license for details). This makes it easier for you to use the Pixie format in commercial products.
If you want to work on Pixie source code but consider even the LGPL to be too restrictive, please email me to see if we can negotiate a one-off license.
You can download the latest version of the Pixie source from:
The current version is 1.13 (30th March 1998) .
Most of the files from the PixieSrc.zip archive live in the package "gnu.bhresearch.pixie". (The GNU folk seem to prefer the "gnu." prefix over "ORG.gnu." or "GNU.") A handful of utility classes live in "gnu.bhresearch.quant", and the viewer applets live in the default unnamed package. The only non-Java file is a copy of the LGPL license.
I don't use a makefile and haven't provided one. I compile using the Java SDK 1.1.5, using "javac -O *.java". (This is plenty fast enough for me.) All the code is pure Java. It does not use any native methods or funny extensions. You will get "obsolete" warnings because it is intended to run on version 1.0.2 JVMs.
The source contains comments in JavaDoc format. I haven't included them separately as HTML; you can extract them yourself if you wish. You will find the user documentation from Pixie.zip and PixiSlid.zip useful.
Although you don't have to tell anyone you are working on the source, I'd rather you at least told me. That way I can help coordinate changes and avoid the same work being done twice. I may also be able to give you advice as to the best way to go about making a change.
Check this page for to find details of projects currently under way. (Currently there are none.)