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drneau
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Feb 2005
Posts: 2385
Location: Woodbury, MN
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 Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:33 am Post subject: |
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| jellifish wrote: | | drneau wrote: | | chunky wrote: | | Any chance that you will open source your code? |
Why on earth would I do that? |
Just a (mainly) hypothetical question good Dr...
How much money in a lump sum would you consider as enough to change your software into a GPL (Open Source) project?
3D modeling software Blender for example had a donations system and a promise that when a certain amount was reached the software would become Open Source. It worked for them.
This wouldn't preclude you from making money from it after going Open Source, actually, you could sell access to these forums (at the same rate as we already pay for the enhanced program, I'm sure most of us would be happy to continue our paypal subscriptions) or charge the subscription for additional support and/or charge for your programming time for enhancements required of you by others (which you'd then also put into the GPL project for all of course)
You'll also find companies (like mine) which will be willing to donate free resources such as web hosting etc. to a good GPL cause.
Suddenly you would have access to a large number of helpers and programmers who would rapidly improve your software (not that I think it needs that much improvement, don't get me wrong), free up more of your time, but you still gain as much as everyone else and continue to get the subscriptions for support and forums etc as the software author.
Depending on your personal life outlook (and current level of achievement) you might find your software also gets even more widely acknowledged and used and you achieve even greater fame and more programming / job offers etc. This can appeal to some people, and why not?
Thanks,
Jake. |
I'll go open source when I get...One Billion Dollars! 
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Dr. Neau (not a real doctor)
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drneau
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Feb 2005
Posts: 2385
Location: Woodbury, MN
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:42 am Post subject: |
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I read the "Blender" story.
Blender was a commerical product that failed. The move to open source was an alternative to no further revenue as the company had dissolved. Rather than start a new company, the investors agreed to sell the rights to Blender. Open source wasn't the original goal in this story. The original goal was revenue.
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Dr. Neau (not a real doctor)
http://drneau.com
http://home.comcast.net/~jneau |
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drneau
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Feb 2005
Posts: 2385
Location: Woodbury, MN
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chunky
"Ace High"
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:35 am Post subject: |
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| drneau wrote: | Step 1: Get a copy of the source code
Step 2: Learn Java
Step 3: Roll your own code that creates your own chip design
...at least, until I make a "chip design" wizard. |
Since the good doctor can't let this go...
The query to about open-sourcing was merely presenting an option for step 1. I completely buy the argument that you make money off of this which makes open sourcing an undesirable option. |
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mattjgalloway
"Cowboys"
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:52 am Post subject: |
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Open sourcing a project like this in my opinion (as I have stated before) is a good thing.
It would bring about some nice additions and tonnes of support from testers and users alike. The software would improve lots and as was stated, people would be happy to provide webspace, or other help. Open sourcing is not just about getting more developers on board, it's about moving the way all software will be going (in my opinion).
Sorry about bolding the in my opinion each time, but I kinda have to due to being flamed so much in the past. Shame. |
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