Open source BYOND?

ID:186605
 
Jun 3 2005, 7:19 pm
Why isn't BYOND sort of open-source? I think that that would dramatically speed up the rate of updates, bugfixes, etc.

Of course, when I say open-source, I don't mean that people have the right to nick the source and redistribute it. A system where people can see the source, and contribute to it, with Tom having the right to veto anything he doesn't like, but where DanTom still has copyright over the code would work rather well. I suppose not many people in the BYOND community know C++, though... Or C, whatever BYOND it written in.
Jun 3 2005, 7:58 pm
I dont think it should be, Look at the people that are in this community. They would most likly edit the title and then sell it as their own.

And, then it would be alot more easy to make a decompiler. Wich noone wants
Jun 3 2005, 8:27 pm
Considering the number of poorly made games from stolen source and the fact that only a small handful of people here actually have the experiance neccessary to continue development I doubt it would really help.
Jun 4 2005, 2:32 am
Jp wrote:
Why isn't BYOND sort of open-source? I think that that would dramatically speed up the rate of updates, bugfixes, etc.

You're quite wrong. Heck, that doesn't even work with projects that are already open-source. Look at Apache's FOP, which to my knowledge is still stalled in development since a year and a half ago and can't handle basic alignment properties in XSL:FO.

Of course, when I say open-source, I don't mean that people have the right to nick the source and redistribute it. A system where people can see the source, and contribute to it, with Tom having the right to veto anything he doesn't like, but where DanTom still has copyright over the code would work rather well. I suppose not many people in the BYOND community know C++, though... Or C, whatever BYOND it written in.

There are significant parts of BYOND that nobody understands but Dan. Making these open source would not help.

Lummox JR
Jun 4 2005, 5:07 am
In response to Lummox JR
Lummox JR wrote:
There are significant parts of BYOND that nobody understands but Dan. Making these open source would not help.

Lummox JR

Heh :P

Here's hoping potential profitability lures Dan out of retirement.
Jun 4 2005, 7:47 am
In response to Smoko
Now this is a stupid question, Even if all the BYOND memebers agreed on this it would'nt happen. Tom has certain people fixing stuff, he does'nt need a bunch of people(newbs) going through the source and messing up things.
Jun 4 2005, 8:03 am
Hasn't this been discussed before. Well, since everyone has already given good reasons, I will stick with the main two and voice my agreement:
1. People could easily mess up BYOND
2. Knowing the people of this community, it would get redistributed almost immediantly, just like Zeta. It happened before, I don't see what could be done to stop it from happening again if BYOND becomes open-source.