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Macromedia releasing source to Flash player

Posted by Hemos on from the loook-but-don't-touch dept.

yoz writes "Macromedia says it will release the source code to the Flash player when Flash 4 comes out in June, according to this press release. However, it's unlikely to be an Open Source license. "

5 of 31 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Open sourcing Macromedia by K. · · Score: 3

    The file specification they released for Flash
    was incomplete. The parser source code they
    released was buggy. They've been promising an SDK
    forever. Basically, they've been stringing along
    the open standards-loving Web community so as to
    prevent a real open standard from getting off
    the ground, IMHO.

    That said, they may have read the writing on the
    wall. And it is a pretty decent format - if only
    it were more accessible programmatically.

    K.
    -
    How come there's an "open source" entry in the
    Jargon File, when there isn't a "free software" one?

    --
    -- Proud descendant of semi-nomadic cattle-herders.
  2. Vaporware pressrooms by Chexum · · Score: 3
    I for one am getting quite fed up with the current MS-y trend of announcements that "we will have it soon". Here's my advice: when it is source, even open-source, just wait quietly until it IS available. If we could wait for it, you also could wait with the announcement.

    It sounds like a good marketing stunt to get press attention two times, once for announcement, and once for release, but refuse the temptation, it's having the possibility that the announced product will be much inferior than waited for. It's also getting the style "people, get off my way, I'm coming", and stopping perfectly acceptable, and well working other projects with a similar goal.

    --
    "Ten years from now, they could do it in a few seconds." -- The Racketeer of the Hellfire Club, 1993, Phrack 42
  3. Macromedia's hand is forced by jetson123 · · Score: 5
    On balance, it's probably good that this source is becoming available (although the free Flash player for Linux works quite well already).

    But the motivation for Macromedia is clear: the W3 is developing XML-based graphics standards and executable content in the form of Java (and ActiveX, if you must) also provides better and better graphics (Java 2 has antialiasing, better fonts, and a much better imaging model than earlier versions).

    Macromedia has a big lead and advantage in authoring and server tools for Flash, and the longer they can keep Flash on the web, the more money they will make. When other formats will become more widespread, they will only be one among many vendors, with no particular lead or advantage.

    I hope the release of Flash source won't preempt the adoption of the next generation of graphics formats. The XML-based formats are much easier to use for dynamic generation of graphical content from any scripting language (no need to buy expensive tools from Macromedia), and Java 2, once it is in browsers, will allow much better interactivity.

  4. Re:There is already a GOOD open source flash playe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3

    http://www.geocities .com/TimesSquare/Labyrinth/5084/flash.html

  5. There is already a GOOD open source flash player by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3

    As the subject says... Macromedia opened up their specs a long time ago, and has even provided support to the guy who wrote it. It is also written in a VERY portable manner, with the result that it has even been ported to the Amiga, and other almost dead platforms. It runs great under Netscape on Linux.