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alex042
Average Member
USA
631 Posts |
 Posted - 19 September 2002 : 21:11:33
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I've decided to go ahead and update some MODs, but have decided to change the distribution procedure within the Snitz community. For MODs I write, the MODs will most likely be available when they're completed, but for others MODs I update, I'll be releasing a notice stating the MOD has been updated and it'll be available to the original MOD authors for review, approval, and/or distribution. I'll be assigning version numbers for each update and encourage the previous MOD author to continue their development and the versioning of the MOD under the original MOD name.
If a circumstance comes up where I've made extensive modifications and/or upgrades to a previous MOD, the MOD may be made available, but will be named something different from the original MOD so it's not to be confused with the original.
If the community wishes to download any of the updated MODs, they may be made available if, a reasonable effort to contact the previous author regarding the upgrade has failed, I receive a notice from the previous MOD author authorizing distribution, and/or if the previous MOD author wishes to distribute my update themself. I encourage the previous MOD authors to review the code before distribution regardless of whether they want me to distribute it or if they distribute it themselves.
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Edited by - alex042 on 19 September 2002 21:13:43 |
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redbrad0
Advanced Member
USA
3725 Posts |
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davemaxwell
Access 2000 Support Moderator
USA
3020 Posts |
Posted - 20 September 2002 : 08:15:00
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| Now THERE is the way to approach mod updates. Good approach Alex, and I hope we can encourage all mod developers to apply the same approach. |
Dave Maxwell
Barbershop Harmony Freak |
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alex042
Average Member
USA
631 Posts |
Posted - 20 September 2002 : 09:07:39
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quote:
THERE is the way to approach mod updates.
I figure if I'm going to be updating these for myself anyway, I might as well let the community know and if they want a copy, they know what should be done to get it. I think this method of releasing MODs may also encourage more cooperation as the previous author can use my updates and build upon them to release an even better MOD. Even if the author doesn't have time to update the MOD, it's already available to them in a functional format for release so most of their work has already been done for them, unless they feel the need to convert the code to response.write. A drawback to this method is that I don't have the benefit of others testing the updates, but I figure a good MOD author should be able to review them for accuracy.
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Edited by - alex042 on 20 September 2002 09:20:15 |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20593 Posts |
Posted - 20 September 2002 : 10:48:07
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| some of the authors may have had perfectly valid reasons for witholding the release of their updates to the community. |
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alex042
Average Member
USA
631 Posts |
Posted - 21 October 2002 : 09:26:47
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Over the past few weeks there seems to have been an increased demand for MODs I've converted to work with v3.4 including Bookmarks, Buddies, PM pager, News Forums, Complain to Moderator, and Statistics, but in many cases, the original authors aren't upgrading them like I had hoped. Fortunately, some others have been gradually updating some or creating MODs to replace some, but unfortunately, many are basically 'redoing' work already done. I may be converting more for my site possibly including link mgr, classifieds, greeting cards, awards, usergroups, CSS skinner, and ratings as I grow weary of waiting for someone else to update MODs, but I probably won't be releasing these either. This is unfortunate, but I'm not sticking my neck out anymore to update something the original authors didn't want to update themselves.
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ajhvdb
Junior Member
Netherlands
392 Posts |
Posted - 21 October 2002 : 11:34:25
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Come on now, this is not the way to go. For now I'm not going to use any of these MODs but I don't want development, ideas to stop with v3.4. If I create a MOD, you can do whatever you want with it (best thing is to improve of course). This is the way released code under GPL works.
The only thing what went wrong in the past was that you didn't inform the author (not owner) of the MOD. You apologized and obviously learned from this, so inform them, keep a link/copyright note to the original author. If the author states he/she will release it soon and/or don't want to work together on a MOD, just wait for it.
If you don't get an answer or you don't like the answer or you don't like their solution, you still have the option to give it a different name and release your own version. (Inform the users about this so they can choose to wait..)
Look at "Header Color...", "Advanced Color...", "QuickCSS" Mod. They all do the same thing but have different names.
If you join a community like this whatever you do, there is always someone who doesn't agree with you. Do what you said at the beginning of this thread but don't wait to long for the original MOD author.
This is the way to go:
http://forum.snitz.com/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=2&TOPIC_ID=35576#189330 |
Edited by - ajhvdb on 21 October 2002 11:38:12 |
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Huntress
New Member
USA
96 Posts |
Posted - 24 October 2002 : 22:33:12
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Well the authors have every right to do with their code what they wish. And I can certainly see getting tired of coding for free, just to be followed by demands for more and more of your lives.
Then folks come along and "steal" your thunder, or get tired themselves of waiting for the releases that never come, and make some hold back or quit.
This is the way it will always be with open source, folks come and go, projects split off and have lives of their own (heck isn't that how Snitz started?) and people get miffed occasionally.
I've got too much invested in this code to be pleased with the things I've seen recently. HuwR, I've been patiently waiting for you to release a version, I've not said a word, just watched your site and I do not know what has happened, nor should you explain that to me, but I've moved on to something else, because you can only wait so long. This is why folks build off the work of others, they wait and wait, and well... you do it yourself. The only thing that miffs me is that you have not been given credit by the copycats.
Alex, I say build them yourself, share them with the community, call them a new name, of course giving credit to the original author, and share them (oops redundant!)
These kind of posts hurt me more than you might know. We all have personal stake in this code, and I for one appreciate all that everyone does. |
There are 10 kinds of people, those that understand binary, and those that don't. |
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shaft
Starting Member
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 04 December 2002 : 00:16:13
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I am new here and I am looking for the news mods that Alex made.
Being very interested in ASP and trying to made a start at coding this also hurt me because I now don't know if this is the place I want to make my start anymore. I felt quite at home here before getting lots of help form peps here. But now there seems to be some dispute about your updated versions of mods. I am here to share my ideas with all and wish that people would do the same. I don't want to use the version that Dan has for download because my forum is v3.4 so can some one PLEASE tell me where or how I can download update version of the mod.
As a starting member and new to coding I feel the same as the Huntress.
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Edited by - shaft on 04 December 2002 15:19:20 |
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StormFronteR
Starting Member
9 Posts |
Posted - 13 December 2002 : 18:22:16
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I too have been looking for this mod for months now. Its all I need to start the completion of my site. |
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