hi Luke, > It's open source software and the positives are you can run it on > basic systems which don't cost very much, but then galleries must hire > yourself to set it up. Seems like these aspects cancel each other out, > or at least set up a very limiting situation.
Perhaps, but not more limiting than the situation of not being able to do it at all. > Wouldn't it be better to provide compiled versions of the software for > Mac OSX etc, an intuitive GUI, some good documentation, and sell the > software? Then people without C++ programmers and yourself at their > organisations could setup and benefit from it, plus financially it's a > much lower price point, with a (potential) much bigger market beyond > NZs shores which could support the work. Well, no, it wouldn't be better, because it would require me to spend time and money I don't have to help people I don't know or care about. Besides which it wouldn't work, because you do need specialist hardware (multiple compatible video cards) and a flexible graphics software stack. Also, BTW, Opo does have a GUI (pretty useless, but there you go; the preferred interface is pressing the power button at either end of the day), is C not ugly C++, and is assuredly at a lower price point than any procedure that involves getting a Macintosh. > Don't mean to rant, just have worked with too many projects where > 'free as in media' becomes 'frustrating as in compiling, command line, > and no documentation'. Surely the rise of apps, most of which are > focused 'single serving' style, has suggested the opposite is true, > less features and more usability makes people more open to downloading > and using your software, even if it's not open-source. I don't know anything about the rise of apps, except that it looks like just another messy software bubble. (Meanwhile, I like how "less features and more usability" echoes Unix doctrine). This is how the software industry actually works for me: the people behind Leilani Kake's show needed some software and they paid me to write it. Now, if I keep the source to myself, I have a captive customer for the rest of my life. That sounds good in theory, but in reality I hate maintaining boring old software. I prefer to do new things. So by letting others in I am free and they avoid lock-in and can possibly pick up other's improvements. Open source software, in this sort of case, makes software better and more valuable for the people who pay for it. And your suggestion of packaging it as an app that does stuff they don't need for a computer they can't afford makes no sense in that context. OK, so now it is out of that context, because it is six months later and I advertised it on the list, and you are suggesting I could have spent some of that time packaging it and possibly getting into the app racket, but actually I assure you I had a much better time not doing that. regards Douglas _______________________________________________ Ada_list mailing list [email protected] http://aotearoadigitalarts.org.nz/
