Disclaimer: I was expected to send my blog post some weeks ago yet it didn't happen. I'm not sure if you have to make comment on my post. So, first make sure you have your comments on other posts of Week-5
A little bit background: I'm a software engineer. I do spend most of my time developing an `open source` framework for other software developers / engineers.
Why this title: As for PhD, I do work on obfuscation. Lots of crypto, and mathematic stuff. It was impossibly hard to find a simple title that we could discuss together.
If you had a programming question, you have possibly met with stackoverflow.com before. This is a website for programmers asking and answering technical questions. Due to nature of programming questions, some of the answers were including `source code` contributions. So far, it wasn't clear the usability of those shared source codes in terms of commercial and open source projects.
Today stackoverflow.com announced that the future contributions on the website will be considered under MIT license. (http://meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/312598/the-mit-license-clarity-on-using-stack-overflow-code)
If you never heard MIT license before, you might continue reading this page
There are indeed pros and cons of StackOverflow's decision. In my opinion, this decision supposed to be given by community.
Questions;
1 ) What is your take on StackOverflow's attempt?
2 ) What is your opinion on Open Source ?
3 ) Which software solution would you wish for to be open sourced ?
Hi
ReplyDelete1 ) What is your take on StackOverflow's attempt?
It is great website which can help you when you have a problem
When I did not know of this page when I have a problem with code I resolved problem but do this longer, now when I make question or search stackoverflow for my problem in 90& cases I find solution
2 ) What is your opinion on Open Source ?
In my opinion this is great idea, a few people can improve software or make new feature. This kind of software is free and we a lot of software or website use this technology.
3 ) Which software solution would you wish for to be open sourced?
I don't have one solution for this kind of software. In my opinion we use open source to make a lot of things. I don't use this software but I will do it.
> I have a problem with code I resolved problem but do this longer, now when I make question or search stackoverflow for my problem in 90& cases I find solution
DeleteYou can perfectly ask the rest 10% too
1 ) What is your take on StackOverflow's attempt?
ReplyDeleteUsing MIT license in place of Creative Commons it did in the past? Can you really point out the difference?
2 ) What is your opinion on Open Source ?
Somebody actually asked this question before. I'm writing these words on my Linux box, using Firefox. I can't really imagine the world without OSS.
3 ) Which software solution would you wish for to be open sourced ?
I don't have my pick, sorry.
IMHO, "Creative Commons" suits better on individual work. However a piece of code can be a collaborative work.
DeleteFor me open source is a fantastic idea which brings us useful and complete software solutions for free. I admire people who only for fun make code and share it with everybody. Therefore currently for private customers open source is a little un-useful. Big software companies with big hardware vendors have a deal and both provide with laptops and desktops with OS on board. This is of course Windows OS but for typical users this software is for free because it is difficult to buy computers without any systems. This simple trick in my opinion destroys open source OS for typical customers.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I can’t see much difference between newest and older license rules. If there are no restrictions and limitations of the rights to use , copy, modify, distribute, even sell copies of the software etc. only under the condition that we include the permission notice - I think it is acceptable.
I am a teacher and I would like to use open source in education software as programming platforms, multimedia programs, virtualization issues and others more.
Didn't quite get the "Therefore currently for private customers open source is a little un-useful. " part
Delete1 ) What is your take on StackOverflow's attempt?
ReplyDeleteI think that this is marvelous idea. Everything that you want to share with others should have licence that tells you can use this code.
2 ) What is your opinion on Open Source ?
I have posted some articles about FOSS software.
I must say I can't imagine life without it I use it everyday even at work, also I am trying not to use software which code is closed. Every piece of software made by me is usually released under BSD licence.
3 ) Which software solution would you wish for to be open sourced ?
Oracle Database :D
> Oracle Database :D
DeleteGot you ;)
1 ) What is your take on StackOverflow's attempt?
ReplyDeleteIn general I agree with this decision. I've posted some answers on StackOverflow with code snippets. I usually apply MIT license to code which I open source, so it's actually in line with me.
2 ) What is your opinion on Open Source ?
I use it on a daily basis (libs/frameworks/software) and try to contribute whenever it's possible. If it wasn't for Open Source initiatives the whole IT sector would be far behind.
3 ) Which software solution would you wish for to be open sourced ?
I don't have anything specific in mind.
> I've posted some answers on StackOverflow with code snippets.
DeleteThanks!
1 ) What is your take on StackOverflow's attempt?
ReplyDeleteIts obvious, that you can't charge people for advice you give on the open forum. Once at the beginning every thing published in the web was free of charge that and was perfect attempt.
2 ) What is your opinion on Open Source ?
Free of charge solution, so you don't require any quality. However sometimes it is quite good piece of software - mostly when somebody want to show off himself to the community.
3 ) Which software solution would you wish for to be open sourced ?
Everything should have free of charge versions, then you can choose free or paid quality
> Everything should have free of charge versions, then you can choose free or paid quality
DeleteSoftware being free as in "freedom" does not necessarily mean it is low quality.
1 ) What is your take on StackOverflow's attempt?
ReplyDeleteMIT Licencse is very "liberal" in my honest opinion. I totally agree with SO Team. We are answering to questions because we want. If you want to charge someone for something like that you can always get a job as a consultant.
2 ) What is your opinion on Open Source ?
It's good to work on open source projects. By doing so we can work on anything we want. It's free, but you have bigger opportunity to contribute in to projects
you actually want.
3 ) Which software solution would you wish for to be open sourced ?
My simple answer is Microsoft Windows :)
> My simple answer is Microsoft Windows :)
DeleteMicrosoft has recently made some bold (cool) moves by open sourcing one or more of its projects. I wouldn't surprise though.
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ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, open source is great. MIT license gives you a possibility to improve code and use it in another projects. From the other side, you can not be 100% sure that the solution is stable and works correctly. Author does not have to make an updates or etc. and then you have to find and correct bugs. Of course, community will make test open source solution but what if you are first? :) Will you use it or ... you write own code? I agree with Mateusz P in 3rd point.
Delete> I agree with Mateusz P in 3rd point.
DeleteRespect the opinion. IMO, I wouldn't trust a commercial project just because it is paid.
I think that kind of solutions are very interesting. I think open source solution will be more and more popular and soon we will not be able to function without them. Personally, I am not involved with any open source project and I don't have any specific software solution in mind that I would wish to be open sourced.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the answer
DeleteI've always treated this page as great place for finding quickly solutions for problems that arise during work as a programmer. I've also assumed that sharing any knowledge or even code examples should be free for further development (so it is). Open source is great especially in learning process. When we want to understand deeply some mechanism, we can usually find open source version of it and start to experiment with it. According to advantages in learning, I will just repeat what Albert wrote: "Everything should have free of charge versions, then you can choose free or paid quality"
ReplyDelete> Open source is great especially in learning process.
DeleteToday, most of the projects we all rely on are actually open source ones. IMO, it's beyond learning and commercial applications already.
1 ) What is your take on StackOverflow's attempt?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I don't see anything wrong with that. MIT license is used very often for sharing, why not here ?
2 ) What is your opinion on Open Source ?
It is one of the most important elements of our every day IT life. Thanks to Open Source many interesting ideas were seen by people, and many of them were extended as they deserved it. I hope that Open Source will never dissapear
3 ) Which software solution would you wish for to be open sourced ?
It is hard to point me one specific "product". But from my point of view I would like to get my hands on source code of couple projects related with augmetned reality ;)
> MIT license is used very often for sharing, why not here ?
DeleteSure, why not. Though the problem was (IMHO), no one asked the opinion of community
Hey, thanks for sharing this information with us. When I first found stackoverflow I was pleased that there is a convenient way of asking or searching for programming related questions, it helped me a lot during my engineer's studies. From time to time I still stumble across problems which I can find answers for on that website. The whole stack exchange format of Q&A is a great utility and a much better alternative to the old fashioned way of threads on forums or mailing lists.
ReplyDeleteI love Open Source, I don't think many of the tools that we use today would have been possible to be built if not for it.
Can't really think of something that I would really want to be Open Source right now. However the first thing that comes to mind is perhaps MS Windows? ;)
> From time to time I still stumble across problems which I can find answers for on that website.
DeleteRight, we all do. I guess we all have something to learn from each other.
I think that Stackoverflow's attempts is meaningful it gives authors the disclaimer that software is without warranty and all other users, that they can reuse it without restrictions. It makes sense, that's what Stack was made
ReplyDeleteI don't remember any open source software used on production in my career. Enterprises prefer to pay for a licence and support, even if support is just for "tick in a box" safety policy purpose. Some open source solutions come with paid support, which in some cases isn't cheaper that commercial software.
I think that OS'es and hardware drivers should be open source, it would help to detect vulnerabilities and enabled new features and faster development.
> I think that OS'es and hardware drivers should be open source, it would help to detect vulnerabilities and enabled new features and faster development.
DeleteCouldn't agree more!
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ReplyDelete1 ) What is your take on StackOverflow's attempt?
ReplyDeleteI think it's OK. Reasonable.
2 ) What is your opinion on Open Source ?
It is a great idea. Mostly it has good quality, is constantly developed. Everybody can contribute there.
3 ) Which software solution would you wish for to be open sourced ?
I have never thought about it :)
Thanks for the answer
Delete1) What is your take on Stack Overflow attempt?
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to tell me something, this is not my field, but the idea I think is right
2) What is your opinion on Open Source?
I sometimes use the software Open sourse, in my opinion, the more passionate about working with the key, the less he has bugs.
3) Which software solution would you wish for to be open sourced?
It is difficult to say at the moment, is that quite a lot ...
1 ) What is your take on StackOverflow's attempt?
ReplyDeleteStackOverflow is the greatest place on the internet to get professional knowledge and specific answers. Off course, the greatest disadvantages of it is answer which are not always polite. That's why when you ask question you must be sure, that's the right question.
2 ) What is your opinion on Open Source ?
I prefer open source solutions in every day. A lot of smart people are working on it every day, that's the reson why open source are better and better. Commercial software are full of security gaps and needs to be updated. In open source software you can for free get updates and manage them in easy way (for example apt-get update).
3 ) Which software solution would you wish for to be open sourced ?
Microsoft Word for sure. The Libre Office tools are great but for me too complicated. It's realy hard to write fast good document using Libre Writer.
Shall we promote different types of licensing on various portals to gather different society or should we try to force all people to only one way of thinking about software authorship. This is really tricky matter where was well described by Dino Esposito that there was lot of blood, tears and sweet putted in developing the web technologies. Without proper legal background this matter is difficult to judge but IT society voice should also be processed in this really huge case. First of all there are various ideologies in world countries which are not helping in developing universal solution for this problem. Asking same question people of China gives you different answer that you ask most of USA citizens. So even if I would promote integration I still can give general answer about approach to Open Software. Therefore I can answer the question on StackOverflow's attempt but I hope that I just helped a little bit you in developing your own opinion in this problem. And finally I encourage you to ask I simple question: If you go to work do you appreciate any money you earn for your intellectual added value? Would you give up all your rights when you do something after your work hours? Name? Money? Prestige? Everything?
ReplyDelete