Slashdot Mirror
On the Ethics of a Code Split?
McWizard asks: "We've recently had a code split at a project I'm leading. (No name given, as this is a question, not an advertisement campaign). While both projects have done some major design decisions in opposing directions, we've been keeping a close eye on the changelog of the spinoff for small changes that could be used. So, whenever we've found an interesting piece of code (mostly GUI stuff, nothing longer than 20 lines of code), we transferred it to our project and gave credit to the spinoff team in the changelog.
What does Slashdot say on that matter? Is this unethical or are such things fair game?"
"Yesterday, I was contacted by the leader of the spinoff project who told me that he's quiet angry at us for doing that and that it's considered unethical and rude to copy code from the spinoff.
As both projects are under the GPL, we have an opposing opinion on that matter and we've more than once invited him to copy code from our project. Nevertheless he's thinking about obfuscating his changelog and only open the source as packages when he's doing a release, which is, as he says, his right under the GPL."
Disgruntled XFree86 developer, are we?
Real programmers can write assembly code in any language. -- Larry Wall
The (X)Emacs split only helps the VIle!
Kiss. Make up. In KISS makeup. Emacs akbar!
dang, meant to say "hate" there...
Oh, that already happened.
If you have a good reason, just split the code - emacs survived it, XFree86 survived it.
If the other little dweeb released his code under the GPL too than I say suck it dry. Use all the work without a second thought.
Of course if you guys share so much code why not just make a 3rd library of the shared code and be done with? E.g. take the intersection of your projects and make that a new library. That way you can focus on your particular tweaks and still be happy.
Of course I can come up with these cool ideas because I'm a forking genious.
Tom
Someday, I'll have a real sig.
First off, I'd have a look at their code and see if they'd taken anything from me...
...well, at least we finally know why Longhorn was delayed.
aww, I thought you meant "have" in the sexual way...free as in beer often leads to free as in love!
yeah, he has used reverse psychology on all of us to get us to go check out and play his mech board game now that we are all ready to get some practice in before the mech from alaska takes over.
Well I disagree. I think both should be doing their utmost to destroy the other project. I mean, isn't that the point of the split in the first place? Because you're absolutely right and the others are absolutely wrong... and they're assholes.
[/sarcasm]
This is left as an exercise for the reader.
I'd suggest replying to the guy with a limerick:
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
ummmm, openbsd isn't GPL'd ;)
This comment is guaranteed*
*not guaranteed
Who ever heard of a coder with anti-social qualities.
Practically everyone seems to be agreeing here.
Must be the Christmas spirit and goodwill.