Blender Is Free Software
code.blender.org
Blender Is Free Software
1–10 of 335 posts
Re: Blender Is Free Software
#2I don't understand the point of this post. It's full of fluff. Is he arguing that people should open source the add-ons they create for Blender?
Re: Blender Is Free Software
#3I don't understand the point of this post. It's full of fluff. Is he arguing that people should open source the add-ons they create for Blender?
He explicitly says so in the comments section:
"Blender add-ons (Python scripts using the Blender API) have to be GPL license compatible. You pay for the service to download it, not for the software. Never feel bad about harming any GPL developer by sharing her/his code. Sharing is an act of love!"
Re: Blender Is Free Software
#4Can someone provide some context for this post?
Are there calls to change Blender's license?
Are add-on developers violating GPL? The post mentions that a bridge between open source and proprietary needs to be open source but the add-on itself doesn't?
Is it just a "how dare you sell products closed source products on top of blender?"
The business model of providing support is all well and good but it's just one. If the software is super easy to use then why would you pay?
Re: Blender Is Free Software
#5Can someone provide some context for this post? Are there calls to change Blender's license? Are add-on developers violating GPL? The post mentions that a bridge between open source and proprietary needs to be open source but the add-on itself doesn't? Is it just a "how dare you sell products closed source products on top of blender?" The business model of providing support is all well and good but it's just one. If…
I don't have any additional context, but the overall style of the post makes it sound to me like it could be talking about a change in the add-on API license or something (in addition to a general pro GPL post). This is the strongest evidence I have:
> I expect that all add-on developers recognize and respect this concept.
Re: Blender Is Free Software
#6Can someone provide some context for this post? Are there calls to change Blender's license? Are add-on developers violating GPL? The post mentions that a bridge between open source and proprietary needs to be open source but the add-on itself doesn't? Is it just a "how dare you sell products closed source products on top of blender?" The business model of providing support is all well and good but it's just one. If…
I think this is for the recent surge of quasi-open-source license changes some products have gone through. That's why they underline the difference between free software and open source.
Recently people started saying that the OSI's Open Source Definition is restrictive and obsolete, that having the sources available is enough, that it's not a problem to restrict usage, etc... That's why it's important to stress "free as in freedom" in free software and not "open as in you can see the source" in open source.
Re: Blender Is Free Software
#7From the article:
"And if you think you ‘suffer from piracy’ or find it hard to do business with Free Software? Just distinguish yourselves with the proven successful free/open source business model: provide docs, training, content, frequent updates and support. Your customers will love you!"
Well, then why does Blender need a development fund? [0]
I honestly agree with most of what this article says and I admire the spirit of open source development and the GPL. Still, I don't think it's a viable business model for all of us under all circumstances. People need to be able to make money with their software or otherwise some software just won't be available. I guess that's effectively what this says for the Blender community. Nothing wrong with that at all, just not the way to go for everyone.
Re: Blender Is Free Software
#8> Blender’s scripting API is an integral part of the software. Blender add-ons work, look and feel like Blender features. And as for any other Blender feature that means – it has to be free, free and free forever! Paying for an add-on can only mean access to the add-on download service… offering it to you as GNU GPL. Your freedom as a user and developer is guaranteed.
This is the same issue that wordpress has faced in the past, I believe - are proprietary plugins allowed to a GPLed product?
Re: Blender Is Free Software
#9Can someone provide some context for this post? Are there calls to change Blender's license? Are add-on developers violating GPL? The post mentions that a bridge between open source and proprietary needs to be open source but the add-on itself doesn't? Is it just a "how dare you sell products closed source products on top of blender?" The business model of providing support is all well and good but it's just one. If…
Somebody recently launched a new site "Blender Depot" which hosts a bunch of Blender add-ons and provides a batch install feature.
Some of the add-ons on this site are commercial plugins available for sale by their authors. All Blender plugins have to be GPL so this sort of redistribution is legal but some of these authors have been rather upset about it. So a large argument ensued on the Blender forums about the GPL, the ethics of software redistribution even when copyright law says it is okay, etc.
Re: Blender Is Free Software
#10> Blender’s scripting API is an integral part of the software. Blender add-ons work, look and feel like Blender features. And as for any other Blender feature that means – it has to be free, free and free forever! Paying for an add-on can only mean access to the add-on download service… offering it to you as GNU GPL. Your freedom as a user and developer is guaranteed. This is the same issue that wordpress has faced i…
They treat addons as GPL'd. The same issue comes up with Blender Game Engine, requiring the whole game to be GPL.