[Opensim-dev] User vs Avatar [WAS: Proposed additional db fields]

Tue Nov 4 22:06:02 UTC 2008

Kyle "G" wrote:
> I agree here with Stefan. Although I am fairly new to the community I 
> have met with Sakai/Steve and he was very nice to me. I also have met 
> with RealXtend who are very gracious. I think we have many teams 
> developing proprietary mixes but isn’t that what the BSD license is 
> about? I foresee a day when many companies have customized OpenSim 
> installations and for many reasons, security, profit, company 
> intellectual property issues, custom integration and more have chosen 
> not to contribute back some or all of their own code.

To be honest, I don't think it's unfair that grids or products that have developed their own code but given little or 
none of it back are not listed on the OpenSim site.  Or we could have a new column that lists the extent of their 
involvement (user, core contributor, patch contributor, etc.)

RealXtend's code is under the BSD license, I understand.  It may be that none of it could go directly back into the 
OpenSim core, being too specialized to their viewer or too experimental.  However, if there was some useful generic code 
then they really need to devote some of their developer time to developing patches that could be applied to OpenSim 
core.  This would be a real signal of their support for the project.  We lack the manpower to do this ourselves - I feel 
it really is their responsibility to make the effort.

OpenLife contributed a few patches in the beginning, but these were very problematic and could not be applied quickly. 
However, I am disappointed that they haven't submitted any patches for a very long time now.  I have never seen their 
installer - I don't know whether it's open source under a suitable license or not.

Certainly under the BSD license there is no legal obligation for anybody to give anything back.  But morally, it would 
help build the community and benefit us all.  One could argue that just by existing they are benefiting the community. 
But I find this thin gruel in comparison to real code and bug fixes.

> 
>  
> 
> This is partly why OpenSim is appealing. It could be argued that OLG 
> with its easy installer and other freebies is growing the community and 
> proving a business model which is benefitting the growth of OpenSim. I 
> think it would be nice if OLG/RealXtend shared as much as possible of 
> their new code but again the BSD license allows for them not doing 
> this.  I think we should embrace all grids using OpenSim as the core 
> regardless of what they gave back or if they forked.   Perhaps it is 
> being left off the list that is making these grids and developers feel 
> like they are not part of the community. At the very least give them 
> some clarity. Even here 
> http://realxtend.com/page.php?pg=features&s=features 
> <http://realxtend.com/page.php?pg=features&s=features> RealXtend gives 
> credit to OpenSim.
> 
>  
> 
> My 2L$-Feel free to pelt with tomatoes on our semi-public still tweaking 
> grid http://gsquared.info:8008 
> http://gsquared.info/gridworx/register/registeruser.aspx BYOT (bring 
> your own tomatoes)
> 
>  
> 
> *From:* opensim-dev-bounces at lists.berlios.de 
> [mailto:opensim-dev-bounces at lists.berlios.de] *On Behalf Of *Stefan 
> Andersson
> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 04, 2008 4:31 PM
> *To:* opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de
> *Subject:* Re: [Opensim-dev] User vs Avatar [WAS: Proposed additional db 
> fields]
> 
>  
> 
> People,
>  
> I guess we need to clarify this policy on the grid page, as that only 
> states "Grid List Policy: Please only list your grid is your software is 
> based on OpenSimulator.org SVN software code" which obviously is too vague.
>  
> How many of the grids on that page would you say are "contributing 
> back"? and what is "some time"?
>  
> could you define "pure opensimulator grid"? How far from trunk shall we 
> deviate before we're not "pure"?
>  
> Tribal Media has Tribal Server, our own branded version of OpenSim, just 
> like 3Di has its. Ours are retail products that are not completely open 
> source. But it sure is OpenSim.
>  
> I have no idea what's going on with OLG, so could you please guide me to 
> the post where they state that "they have officially forked and are no 
> longer using, or supporting, OpenSim".
> 
> Best regards,
> Stefan Andersson
> Tribal Media AB
>  
> Join the 3d web revolution : http://tribalnet.se/
>  
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2008 14:00:41 -0700
> From: nebadon2025 at gmail.com
> To: opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de
> Subject: Re: [Opensim-dev] User vs Avatar [WAS: Proposed additional db 
> fields]
> 
> Well there is a bit more history to this than just then forking it, but 
> they have not contributed back to this project, and really has realxtend 
> for that matter, at this point only pure opensimulator grids will be 
> listed unless the project is directly contributing back to the project, 
> which openlife grid has not done in some time and like melanie has said 
> they have forked into a new project and have even renamed it something 
> else and its also a retail product thats not completely open source.
> 
> Nebadon
> 
> On Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 1:55 PM, Kyle G <create at reactiongrid.com 
> <mailto:create at reactiongrid.com>> wrote:
> 
> That is weird they (OpenLife) are using RealXtend which is OpenSim at the
> core and I see Steve/Sakai talking in this thread and contributing. Seems
> like OpenLife is as much a part of the community as the rest. Am I missing
> something or don't they deserve to be a listed grid as well?
> 
> 
> Kyle G
> www.reactiongrid.com <http://www.reactiongrid.com/>
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: opensim-dev-bounces at lists.berlios.de 
> <mailto:opensim-dev-bounces at lists.berlios.de>
> [mailto:opensim-dev-bounces at lists.berlios.de 
> <mailto:opensim-dev-bounces at lists.berlios.de>] On Behalf Of Melanie
> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:57 PM
> To: opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de <mailto:opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de>
> 
> Subject: Re: [Opensim-dev] User vs Avatar [WAS: Proposed additional db
> fields]
> 
> Hi,
> 
> the reason was that they have officially forked and are no longer
> using, or supporting, OpenSim.
> 
> Melanie
> 
> 
> Todd Adams wrote:
>>  What was the justification for dropping OpenLifeGrid from the list of
> grids
>>  at Opensimulator.org?  They make significant contribution to the opensim
>>  effort and are extremely successful.
>>
>>
>>
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