Roadshow for 68K -Needs your support!

[olsen]

there has been lots of stuff about not wanting to release as open due to quality control, documentation etc.

Done and done (most of it was already done in late 2010). The problem here is that I am currently very willing but very unable to get that last simple bit finished, namely writing the text that should go on the web site on which the product will be sold.

It happens, it happened before, it will happen again. It just sucks that after all the work that went into making Roadshow happen, it's the smallest thing that manages to stop it.

but actually, if it had just been dumped on sourceforge, its quite probable by now the community, would have cleaned it up, made some documentation and a website etc.

Well, my outlook on this is pessimistic. If it really were that easy, we'd have a lot more projects on sourceforge.net (or Google code, whatever) than is currently the case. Fact is, hardly anybody who went through the hassle of learning Amiga software development is still doing it, and the state of the platform being as it is, few people want to learn it.

[wawrzon]

Well, my outlook on this is pessimistic. If it really were that easy, we'd have a lot more projects on sourceforge.net (or Google code, whatever) than is currently the case. Fact is, hardly anybody who went through the hassle of learning Amiga software development is still doing it, and the state of the platform being as it is, few people want to learn it.

no, open source does not guarantee anything, but at least the code would not go lost, as in case you quit for whatever reason or your backups get missing. so many people are leaving here quietly, somtimes with their precious stuff, never to be seen again. but positive example to what may happen is pfs3, open sourced with piru working on it and already included in aros.

speaking of which aros is a perfect place to accomodate all that. people there have extremly different interests and views about amiga (f.e. toni willlen with his only-68k) yet they are working together. aros attemts to stay compatible to as much as possible amiga alternatives (1.x-3.x, mos, os4) and offers potential support to widest variety of platforms including custom ones. aros gathers skilled coders, what it lacks is audience, hopefully to get interested as soon as 68k port gets usable.

[buzz]

Well, my outlook on this is pessimistic. If it really were that easy, we'd have a lot more projects on sourceforge.net (or Google code, whatever) than is currently the case. Fact is, hardly anybody who went through the hassle of learning Amiga software development is still doing it, and the state of the platform being as it is, few people want to learn it.

Many open source amiga apps have become successful, been ported across multiple amiga platforms, and still get a little tlc even if not actively developed. however if you take the attitude there is no point, and don't do it, then of course, nothing will improve.

it's your project and your choice. but I think you are wrong regarding this. I actively work on multiple open source projects. it was the fact i could pick up and hack the code that got me started on them.

[Jope]

Sorry this has been taking so long. I was still on a roll in March, got the distribution archive ready, got the demo version ready, got the SDK ready, but then something happened

I burnt out and I am still recovering.

Thanks for the status update, I'll keep waiting.

Meanwhile, the inferior stack still moves packets, so I'm not in a hurry. Just thought I'd ask what's happening with this.

Enjoy the summer, maybe you'll have more interest towards this when autumn comes. :-)

[LoadWB]

Many open source amiga apps have become successful, been ported across multiple amiga platforms, and still get a little tlc even if not actively developed. however if you take the attitude there is no point, and don't do it, then of course, nothing will improve.

it's your project and your choice. but I think you are wrong regarding this. I actively work on multiple open source projects. it was the fact i could pick up and hack the code that got me started on them.

And many do not become successful, are completely abandoned, or relegated to commercial development.

There is an Apache module I need for my web server.  While I have programming in my background, I do not have the time to tinker with the inner workings of Apache to learn how this module works or to recreate it.  The author is uninterested in updating his patch, and only a handful of Linux distros have maintained this module.  And those distros are useless to my Solaris installations.

There are a number of really good FOSS projects which simply become abandoned.  In theory, the nice thing about FOSS is that the motivation for a project is not money, but rather the usability and necessity.  Until the developer or developers no longer find it necessary for themselves.  So, in some ways, I feel the flaw with FOSS is that projects are often necessarily selfish.

In any case, I, too, am very interested in a 68k Roadshow, and stand ready.

[buzz]

There is an Apache module I need for my web server.  While I have programming in my background, I do not have the time to tinker with the inner workings of Apache to learn how this module works or to recreate it.  The author is uninterested in updating his patch, and only a handful of Linux distros have maintained this module.  And those distros are useless to my Solaris installations.

doesnt sound like you are arguing against my case. whether or not the code was open, the original author has lost interest. at least someone can still maintain it if they want. if it had been closed, then tough and the situation would be even worse. the fact  you don't have the time is neither here nor there. you could if you really wanted to update the code, as could someone else. if it was something I needed, i would personally make the time to sort it, and I would feel that by being open it had benefited me as I was able to continue to use it.

what module btw ?

[desiv]

Agreed..  My wife was a Windows programmer (she's a business analyst now..  better?  worse?  tough call..  ;-) and I remember a problem she had with an app.
They "bought" a fully supported library for file transfers (sftp I think??).  Great reviews and support..  And it was great, for about 3 years..
Then the company folded, no support.  New standard at work and this library wouldn't work with the move (I think it was VB6 to VB .NET)...
Finding another solution was a hassle..

It happens tho.  In both commercial and OSS..

desiv
p.s.  I do remember her grumbling that if she had the code rather than just the library, she could have fixed it herself.  ;-)

[olsen]

Many open source amiga apps have become successful, been ported across multiple amiga platforms, and still get a little tlc even if not actively developed. however if you take the attitude there is no point, and don't do it, then of course, nothing will improve.

I am not disputing that good can come of it, stress on "can". Amiga programming is hard, like any other programming task is. Only this platform has today even less material available than possibly any other that is more than 25 years old. Some men (and women) like a challenge, I suppose. But some don't.

As for Roadshow, let's say I'm not ready to part with a project that has been with me for more than 10 years, and for which I feel responsible. I don't want to walk away from it.

Ask me again in ten years time

[buzz]

I am not disputing that good can come of it, stress on "can". Let's say I'm not ready to part with a project that has been with me for more than 10 years, and for which I feel responsible. I don't want to walk away from it.

Ask me again in ten years time

You sound like you would be giving it away never to see it again. not quite the same thing, but anyway, i wish you luck with it.

I have a little open source perl module I maintain. it's gpl licensed, and on cpan, but it still feels like mine. I mean, I still maintain it myself. I do get useful patches (and bug reports) from users though which is handy. If i decided to stop developing it, then someone else can pick it up. win win surely?

[nicholas]

Still waiting..... :/

[kolla]

Ask me again in ten years time

Noone will have any use for it in ten years time, it's just marginally of any use today.

[Jose]

@Olaf
Come on, just finish the God damn thing, you know you want it too!
BTW, finances permiting I'll probably be another paying customer.

[Nearly-Right]

I'd be interested in buying it, even though I have the full Miami, and AmiTCP packages. There's always room for a new TCP/IP on this platform, as long as it will be well supported, as I wouldn't want an instant departure similar to the support that occurred when Holger Kruse abandoned Miami.

So, yeah, come on let's see it completed for the Classic 68k hardware, I'd pay for it.

My only reservation is that I feel any commercial package should come with an easy to use GUI, online help, and PDF manual - if there isn't a printed one, and a good installation script.

[Jope]

My money is still in my hand too.. You can do it, Olsen! :-)

[Bamiga2002]

I'd pay for this too!

[Joeled]

I want it and will pay for it!