Open Source or API?

[NeverMan]

Would either of these things ever be possible?

I really feel that Matrix can benefit from the community on this one.

[wworld7]

Given the history of Matrix ANYTHING is possible.

But IMO, you have at best a long wait of many years so don't get your hopes up for anything soon.

Reality is what it is. The good news is this game is making progress and I look forward to that continuing.

[MarshallEllis]

I think this might have been more feasible if the project started this way (At design). Open source would be a little difficult and require a pretty good learning curve. I say this because it is a few hundred source files with data files from a few other projects (AI, Game Building and Scenario Builder, DB creator). The API method would be easier after the fact but even then I would need to make some logical hooks for developers and that takes time.

[NeverMan]

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

I think this might have been more feasible if the project started this way (At design). Open source would be a little difficult and require a pretty good learning curve. I say this because it is a few hundred source files with data files from a few other projects (AI, Game Building and Scenario Builder, DB creator). The API method would be easier after the fact but even then I would need to make some logical hooks for developers and that takes time.

Yes, this is what I would expect as far as the API and I don't expect Matrix to let it be Open Source but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop asking.

As far as the learning curve, I don't think that's an issue there are far larger projects that are open sourced that get very good things from the community.

[MarshallEllis]

ORIGINAL: NeverMan

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

I think this might have been more feasible if the project started this way (At design). Open source would be a little difficult and require a pretty good learning curve. I say this because it is a few hundred source files with data files from a few other projects (AI, Game Building and Scenario Builder, DB creator). The API method would be easier after the fact but even then I would need to make some logical hooks for developers and that takes time.

Yes, this is what I would expect as far as the API and I don't expect Matrix to let it be Open Source but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop asking.

As far as the learning curve, I don't think that's an issue there are far larger projects that are open sourced that get very good things from the community.

Yea BUT open source projects (I've seen bigger as well i.e. LINUX) tend to follow certain conventions/methods that I did not. BUT this is due to the fact that we never intended this to be Open Source. It's a decision that always should be made ahead of the coding.

BTW: This is not simply a Matrix / Outflank decision point. This is an ADG decision point.

[NeverMan]

Yes, I understand that it's a very difficult decision (meaning it's impossible to simply say "OK") to make a product Open Source.

As far as how you did things, to me that's the whole point of making this thing Open Source: to correct the mistakes, correct?

[MarshallEllis]

Well that is one point of view on an advantage of OpenSource. I believe the concept was not to correct mistakes but to allow free contribution and feature development. OpenSource projects tend to be more living and less definite. The only downside (And not in all cases) tends to be support BUT this is usually OK for some since they understand this before entering.

[NeverMan]

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

Well that is one point of view on an advantage of OpenSource. I believe the concept was not to correct mistakes but to allow free contribution and feature development. OpenSource projects tend to be more living and less definite. The only downside (And not in all cases) tends to be support BUT this is usually OK for some since they understand this before entering.

Yes, but in this case I think that the "project" (it's certainly a project at this point and less of a product IMO) simply doesn't have enough resources dedicated to it (you are only one man after all).

This is all academic to be sure since Matrix gains nothing by making this OpenSource and could actually lose from it.

[MarshallEllis]

I understand your O but IMO it is and was a product ... just not the product you wanted and that's fine. We're all allowed an opinion or two. With opinions none can be wrong. I can accept and respect your views as yours and I do listen and will not devalue your views no matter how different they are from mine. Sure it might be academic but still it is my job to read, discuss and respond. All part of the fun (And believe it or not it is still fun for me)!