Quote:
flipse wrote:
My question is about the fact some modules like Oledrion have plugins you have to pay for. I realy like Hervets module but dislike the idea of asking money for basic enhancements or a newsletter module. Xoops.org as a platform for selling modules is a bad idea in my opinion, it bites the community idea. On the other hand I understand a developer likes to get something back for the work he did... It's a complex question, I know
What is the official XOOPS stance on this? You would have to ask the XOOPS Council and not me, I am not qualified to answer this question on their behalf. This is a question that will have to be asked at a later stage of the module repository redevelopment.
However, I would like to add my personal view on the subject and please note, again this is not the official line from XOOPS or the XOOPS Council.
This is a complex question and there has been much debate far as long as I can remember, and everyone has their own opinion beliefs over the wording of the actual GPL licence.
To me personally, I understand that the source code must be made available at all time to the community and that mean basically I can view the code without the need of having to decompile code without de-compilers or any other tools first.
So basically:
1. You include the full unmodified source of any GPL code you used in your distribution.
2 - You include the full source of any parts of any code containing the GPL code.
Now the problem with GPL, is in reality GPL itself. The wording is vague and very much open to debate, counter debate and so on and in my humble opinion, the GPL is about the code being made available to view, modify and redistribute with no restriction placed after the original restrictions imposed.
Now when the GPL states this, does it mean that the code should be free? Some will claim that it does and other will counter that claim, and because the believes that GPL is actually so vague about everything, then it is also to subjection and conjecture. (some may even counter this claim).
But really, you have to look at the bigger picture here. This is just not about the code and whether or not it should be free.
Sure, at the end of the day, you as the developer has the choice to release you code gratis, or charge a minimal fee for the service/support that you provide. You, on the other hand are free to pay for the developers service (either through fee or a donation) or you could chose to not to pay for it and download another product that is does a similar job. It is your choice.
In my honest opinion, in reality, you are NOT buying the CODE you are paying for the overall service.
Now, you have to ask yourself the implications of both, paying a developer for his services and support almost will help keep the development of his work going. Once he as taken monies, he has to provide that support and the people who purchase that support are quite within their right to expect it.
Many major companies will invest large amounts of 'money' for support and the continued development of a product that they depend on and many will even pay to have a particular piece of coding added to the product.
On the other hand, when you download a product free, you basically have to put your faith in the developer to give you support, the service and continued development, and if the developers stops the development, you have to hope that someone else will pick up the baton and keep running.
Now, here is the harsh reality. XOOPS isn't just about people creating personal websites, blogs and social networks, there are many companies who depend on the continued development and support of many of the modules available, but also the survival of XOOPS itself. We all can see the impact that the current module crisis has been having on XOOPS and we can all now appreciate the need for safe, secure active modules.
I believe that if people want to pay for support to keep modules actively development then I believe that can be a good thing for Xoops. In the case of Herve, if companies or individuals wish to pay for his support and continued development of his free modules, then I say that is a good thing for many of the XOOPS users and XOOPS in the long run.
Catz