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Require plugin authors to release source?


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Recently, we have seen a lot of "Betas in RTW clothing". There have also been a lot of very ingenious plugins. In both cases there is something to be gained by all if the authors released the source.

I think that a simple solution to this would be, make including the source a requirement for any plugins posted on the forum. Write your plugins, share by your own means. But if you want to post on the forum, make it open source. Obviously, a "grandfather rule" would have to apply for some of the older plugins.

A great example of what I mean is posted here:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22927

Bleek II started something, wasn't sure he could finish it and asked for help from the community. After looking at some of the other plugins on this forum, it seems like this should be the rule, not the exception.

What is your opinion?

 

Take responsibility for your own intelligence. ;) -Rick Brewster

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This is indeed needed badly. The current system functions, but dosen't function fully. If the member left, like the author of Shape3D, another member could recompile and/or change the plugin and build upon it.

Also, the web isn't the most stable of mediums, and download links break often. If the author is no-where to be seen, and we aren't allowed to upload another download, what are we to do?

The plugin distribution system here needs to be more standardized in my opinion.

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former"

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Paint.NET is an open source piece of software, so why shouldn't plugins affiliated with it not be also?

There have also been a lot of very ingenious plugins. In both cases there is something to be gained by all if the authors released the source.
Precisely: learners and the learned could benefit from open source material, and material that is directly pertinent to Paint.NET plugin development.

I am in concurrence with your notion.

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If I write a plugin, I should be allowed to release it how I like... with or without souce code. If I want to charge money for my plugins, I should be allowed to do so.

Period.

Fake Edit: If you really want to know how a plugin works, do a google search for "C# reflector".

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I think that this is an interesting idea, and bears discussion.

 

The Doctor: There was a goblin, or a trickster, or a warrior... A nameless, terrible thing, soaked in the blood of a billion galaxies. The most feared being in all the cosmos. And nothing could stop it, or hold it, or reason with it. One day it would just drop out of the sky and tear down your world.
Amy: But how did it end up in there?
The Doctor: You know fairy tales. A good wizard tricked it.
River Song: I hate good wizards in fairy tales; they always turn out to be him.

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If I write a plugin, I should be allowed to release it how I like... with or without souce code. If I want to charge money for my plugins, I should be allowed to do so.

Period.

Fake Edit: If you really want to know how a plugin works, do a google search for "C# reflector".

Agrees.

I don't know how to make plugins, so I will use drawing as smaple.

Am I required to post my PDN file or Teach evey single method I used?

I teach cuz I am a nice person, but I don't think I am obliged to do so.

If you force people, they will either..

1. Not bother to make or release plugins.

2. Host on their own site (Which will make it even harder to "collect" all the plugins)

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How about "Strongly encourage?" Or offer strong incentives (such as opportunity for placement within a special "Official PdN Plugin Pack") for those who do?

 

The Doctor: There was a goblin, or a trickster, or a warrior... A nameless, terrible thing, soaked in the blood of a billion galaxies. The most feared being in all the cosmos. And nothing could stop it, or hold it, or reason with it. One day it would just drop out of the sky and tear down your world.
Amy: But how did it end up in there?
The Doctor: You know fairy tales. A good wizard tricked it.
River Song: I hate good wizards in fairy tales; they always turn out to be him.

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If I write a plugin, I should be allowed to release it how I like... with or without souce code. If I want to charge money for my plugins, I should be allowed to do so.

Period.

Fake Edit: If you really want to know how a plugin works, do a google search for "C# reflector".

Couldn't have put it better myself...

ed-sig2.png.3c040e8f8a7b22d05fbfbad8e5ea6994.png

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I think this a very interesting topic, I'm not a plugin creator and really don't know much about 'how to create a plug in', but I do have my opinion about 'rights'.

I think that thats what this issue comes down to, everyone who creates a plug in has 'certain rights'. Making this mandatory would change the rights of the developer. I think that that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it could possibly discourage some users from sharing their plug ins.

I am for this because I hate to see wonderful plug ins (i.e shape 3D etc.) discontinued because the user has 'disappeared'.

I really liked the idea of not making it mandatory but making it highly recommended, and maybe add some kind of benefit for adding the source.

There's my two sense.

Kevin

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If you vote "For it", you need to send me money now. Paypal is fine. Just send it to my normal email address.

Once you have sent your payment, feel good knowing that you have just paid your first installment of the new "idiot tax".

More will follow.

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Download: BoltBait's Plugin Pack | CodeLab | and how about a Computer Dominos Game

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If you vote "For it", you need to send me money now. Paypal is fine. Just send it to my normal email address.

Once you have sent your payment, feel good knowing that you have just paid your first installment of the new "idiot tax".

More will follow.

Haha, you should have thought about going into the stand up comic business :P

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/.../A great example of what I mean is posted here:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22927

Bleek II started something, wasn't sure he could finish it and asked for help from the community. After looking at some of the other plugins on this forum, it seems like this should be the rule, not the exception.

What is your opinion?

Perhaps the question isn't the good one!

But it is the the way I'm trying to contribute to/with other plugins'authors within my limits (see the link above). So I voted for it!

As there is a suggestion for an image hospital, I would like to compare this to a request for a plugin hospital.

Hey, I'm asking myself, aren't the Paint.NET Programming / Development and especially the Effects API / Programming made for?

BTW, my package has its sources'package!

ITOH, I can't refuse to use some plugin like (or as great as) the Shape 3D just because I can't have a look to the sources.

And Ive some knowledge about coding...

I think most of PDN users (think to OMA, no offense here) won't ever need to know about the code/source.

So why should you(we) make it a rule?

And so this topic is a debate!

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I think plugin authors should be encouraged to release the source code but not forced to.

Mind you, I'm no plugin author so I wouldn't need the source code (unless I decided to make a plugin) :wink:

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If you vote "For it", you need to send me money now. Paypal is fine. Just send it to my normal email address.

Once you have sent your payment, feel good knowing that you have just paid your first installment of the new "idiot tax".

More will follow.

Have a penny Penny.png:lol:

I think plugin authors should be encouraged to release the source code but not forced to.

Mind you, I'm no plugin author so I wouldn't need the source code (unless I decided to make a plugin) :wink:

I agree, I think it should be encouraged but not made a rule. But I think that the idea to some how make an incentive for adding a source is a good idea.

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@BoltBait,

I guess that's just not the attitude I would expect from a contributor to this community.

My big point with all of the efficient coders (you, ed, others..) is, seeing your code may be extremely helpful to up and coming plugin programmers. I just think that if you want to post links to your work on this forum you should be nice and post the source code.

If you vote "For it", you need to send me money now. Paypal is fine. Just send it to my normal email address.
I think that the contribution of a good/great plugin is on the same level as a great tutorial. You don't see any of the tutorial writers demanding payment. Bad form man...

*All said without the slightest bit of malice. I truly appreciate the work you guys do. Just stirring the pot...:D

 

Take responsibility for your own intelligence. ;) -Rick Brewster

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bb00, I publish the source code to my plugins for 2 reasons:

1. I'm a nice guy.

2. To help other people learn how to write plugins

If I was being forced to release my source code, I would quit writing plugins, delete all my plugins and associated web pages, and tell the rule makers to 'go to hell'.

I live in a free country. You can not force me to do anything. End of story.

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Download: BoltBait's Plugin Pack | CodeLab | and how about a Computer Dominos Game

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bb00, I publish the source code to my plugins for 2 reasons:

1. I'm a nice guy.

2. To help other people learn how to write plugins

If I was being forced to release my source code, I would quit writing plugins, delete all my plugins and associated web pages, and tell the rule makers to 'go to hell'.

I live in a free country. You can not force me to do anything. End of story.

Hey, it was the beginning of my story (somehow)!

CodeLab samples (and of course CodeLab itself) were a great help for me...

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I'm still waiting for your payment.

i paid you :P.

I think is an argument more about ethics, what's right and wrong. Than about the specific topic. It seems like the people objecting to this, are objecting because they believe it is 'wrong' to imply a rule like that.

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