otsvd
New Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2013
- Messages
- 5
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TL;DR Why doesn't anyone open source their software? What can be done to fix that?
I'm dismayed at the apparent lack of Free Open Source Software in the community. I've seen a lot of threads where some tool was released (SPR/DAT editors, player management, acc, etc) but only a binary was uploaded to some crappy free sharing site and half the thread ends up asking for "rehost!" The few projects I've seen where sources were provided also have the problem of expired download links (from the same crappy free sharing sites). After a couple months (or years) the tool is obsolete and the author MIA.
The OTS is released under the GPL so the project at least started in the right spirit. Where did the community go wrong? RME was open source for awhile but the most recent versions aren't (so there can't be any new development on what seems to be the most popular map editor still). I can understand wanting compensation for the work, but I haven't seen anyone charging for these tools. Even TFS development is behind a paywall (though I get the reasoning, and commend them for keeping it open even if it's a smaller group).
Is there a lack of knowledge about the benefits of FOSS? Is there something the community can do to encourage collaboration? We have amazing tools like Github.com which will host sources (and even binaries) for free, and have great UIs for collaboration.
I think it's fantastic that so many people have wanted to contribute their tools to the community, but it saddens me that everyone has to keep re-inventing the wheel every six months. I'd love to hear your feedback.
I'm dismayed at the apparent lack of Free Open Source Software in the community. I've seen a lot of threads where some tool was released (SPR/DAT editors, player management, acc, etc) but only a binary was uploaded to some crappy free sharing site and half the thread ends up asking for "rehost!" The few projects I've seen where sources were provided also have the problem of expired download links (from the same crappy free sharing sites). After a couple months (or years) the tool is obsolete and the author MIA.
The OTS is released under the GPL so the project at least started in the right spirit. Where did the community go wrong? RME was open source for awhile but the most recent versions aren't (so there can't be any new development on what seems to be the most popular map editor still). I can understand wanting compensation for the work, but I haven't seen anyone charging for these tools. Even TFS development is behind a paywall (though I get the reasoning, and commend them for keeping it open even if it's a smaller group).
Is there a lack of knowledge about the benefits of FOSS? Is there something the community can do to encourage collaboration? We have amazing tools like Github.com which will host sources (and even binaries) for free, and have great UIs for collaboration.
I think it's fantastic that so many people have wanted to contribute their tools to the community, but it saddens me that everyone has to keep re-inventing the wheel every six months. I'd love to hear your feedback.