Hiho,
On Tuesday 19 May 2009 22:47:58 James Harkins wrote:
> On May 19, 2009, at 7:56 PM, nescivi wrote:
> > On Windows, we seem to get mostly users, not potential
> > developers... which is unfortunate, but not really something we can
> > do a lot about...
> > Open source is a do-ocracy after all.
>
> I suggested once upon a time, if the only way to get the Windows
> problems fixed once and for all is to hire somebody to do it, then we
> should be able as a community to gather some funds. So far we haven't
> had, well, any success finding a Windows-knowledgeable developer who
> is interested in working on supercollider for free. If some cash
> would make the job more appealing, I'm not opposed to that.
A big chunk of the work on the Windows version was done as part of the SonEnvir project, where basically someone was hired to get SC working on Windows, so that various participants in the project (mostly from non-music backgrounds) could use the sonification done in SC.
I'm just observing that Windows users, coming from a software practice where you either buy a commercial package and have no possibility to fiddle with the source, or get a freeware, which is only free in the sense of free beer, or even taking in a route to obtain software, which has some illegal aspects to it, and frequently the danger of getting a virus of some sort, generally do not seem to be programmers of some kind at least enough to help out.
If there are enough Windows users, and they have no problem with putting money together to get someone to fix the stuff, then by all means do so.
Sourceforge does have facilities using Paypal to do these kinds of things.
Fixed once and for all though, will probably only be till Vista's successor appears on the market.
> Supercollider is open source and free, but I don't think there is any
> rule in the open-source world that all of the work must be done on a
> volunteer basis.
No, there are perfectly valid business models for earning money with open source software. Since the majority of software demands are custom software, open source models are even a very good way to make business, since it allows you to make custom programs for specific companies, and allows you to use and modify these programs for other customers who want different custom tasks. GPL states nothing about whether or not you have to pay, or whether or not you can sell, or whether or not someone can pay you to modify the software.
Sourceforge supports some of these business models even, by facilitating to pay developers through Paypal.
I only stated that the open source world is ruled by the people who "do" stuff, regardless of whether or not they get paid.
> And yes, I will put my money where my mouth is. I'm a bit fed up
> frankly with making excuses for the state of the Windows version and
> I'd be glad to chip in.
It's just stating the situation to clarify to users, not really excuses. We don't stop anyone from improving the Windows version, we'd even help anyone who wants to do it. But people have to know that we need such developers, otherwise no one will ever step forward, no?
sincerely,
Marije
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