--- a/licenser/licenses.py	Mon May 10 09:18:26 2010 -0700
+++ b/licenser/licenses.py	Mon May 10 11:24:02 2010 -0700
@@ -1,6 +1,56 @@
+import os
+
 from datetime import datetime
 
-class MPL(object):
+class License(object):
+  """Abstract base class for a license"""
+
+  variables = [] # required variables
+
+  def __init__(self):
+    if not os.path.isabs(self.template):
+      self.template = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
+                                   'licenses',
+                                   self.template)
+    assert os.path.exists(self.template)
+
+  def __call__(self, directory, **kw):
+    for var in self.variables:
+      if var not in kw:
+        print 'Enter %s: ' % var,
+        kw[var] = raw_input()
+    self.pre(kw)
+    self.interpolate(directory, kw)
+
+  def pre(self, variables):
+    """do anything that needs to be done before interpolation"""
+
+  def interpolate(self, directory, variables):
+    for file in self.files(directory):
+      pass
+
+  def isempty(self, path):
+    """
+    determines if a python file is empty;  that is, contains only comments
+    """
+    for line in file(path, 'r').readlines():
+        line = line.strip()
+        if line and line[0] != '#':
+            return False
+    return True
+
+  def files(self, directory):
+    files = set()
+    for dirpath, _, filenames in os.walk(directory):
+        for f in filenames:
+            if f.endswith('.py'): # could use os.path.splitext()
+                path = os.path.join(dirpath, f)
+                if not self.isempty(path):
+                    files.add(path)
+    return files
+
+
+class MPL(License):
   """Mozilla Public License"""
   template = 'MPL' # could be implicit here
   variables = [ 'author' ]

--- a/licenser/main.py	Mon May 10 09:18:26 2010 -0700
+++ b/licenser/main.py	Mon May 10 11:24:02 2010 -0700
@@ -10,41 +10,24 @@
 
 def license_list(debug=False):
     licenses = {}
-    for entry_point in iter_entry_points():
+    for entry_point in iter_entry_points('licenser.license'):
         try:
             license = entry_point.load()
-        except:
+        except Exception, e:
             if debug:
                 import pdb; pdb.set_trace()
             else:
-                print >> sys.stderr, "Couldn't load license '%s'" % entry_point.name
+                print >> sys.stderr, "Couldn't load license '%s' [%s]" % (entry_point.name, e)
                 continue
         licenses[entry_point.name] = license
     return licenses
 
-def isempty(path):
-    """
-    determines if a python file is empty;  that is, contains only comments
-    """
-    for line in file(path, 'r').readlines():
-        line = line.strip()
-        if line and line[0] != '#':
-            return False
-    return True
-
-def files(directory):
-    files = set()
-    for dirpath, _, filenames in os.walk(directory):
-        for f in filenames:
-            if f.endswith('.py'): # could use os.path.splitext()
-                path = os.path.join(dirpath, f)
-                if not isempty(path):
-                    files.add(path)
-    return files
 
 def main(args=sys.argv[1:]):
     usage = '%prog [options] directory'
     parser = OptionParser(usage, description=__doc__)
+    parser.add_option('-d', '--debug', action='store_true', default=False,
+                      help="debug the application")
     parser.add_option('-l', '--license',
                       help="license to use")
     parser.add_option('--list', action='store_true', default=False,
@@ -54,8 +37,12 @@
     licenses = license_list()
 
     if options.list: # list the licenses
-        for i in licenses:
-            pass
+        for i in sorted(licenses.keys()):
+            doc = getattr(licenses[i], '__doc__')
+            if doc:
+                print '%s: %s' % (i, doc)
+            else:
+                print i
         sys.exit(0)
 
     if not options.license: