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Dealing with abandonware (2024)

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Re: Dealing with abandonware (2024)

#31

Post by yardstick »

jasonjayr wrote: post #13
tlavoie wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, or they could release a patch that simply nerfs the license check on the binary. No risk in terms of lost profits, for software they no longer sell.

That assumes the (a) the source is still available (b) the build environment is still available and working, (c) a staff member is still available that understands the system and/or (d) the time to figure it out and rebuild, test, and create the binary diff/patch ....

Or could just release the tool that issues new keys/serials/licenses.

Re: Dealing with abandonware (2024)

#32

Post by hulitu »

snickerer wrote: post #24

The horrors of non-free software... When I become king of the United Continents, I will make a new rule: If you don't publish high-quality updates for your software for one year, it will become open source automatically.

> If you don't publish high-quality updates for your software for one year,

I don't think that Microsoft or Google will like this.

Re: Dealing with abandonware (2024)

#33

Post by hulitu »

banbangtuth wrote: post #9

Kinda off topic but related. But is it realistic these days to just expect software to write once and run forever? I am a TypeScript/Frontend guy by trade, but I always admire languages like Go. It seems like a simple language that I can write once and maintain forever or once in a blue moon. Everytime I want to write something in TypeScript and then I pull bunch of crazy dependencies, I began to question if it is wo…

> But is it realistic these days to just expect software to write once and run forever?

From an engineering perspective, yes. From the current mindset in SW development (reinventing the wheel every couple of years) no. Almost all current SW is throw away software. For most of it you need a particular version of an OS, particular versions of libraries and a particular planet alignment, just to be able to run it.

Re: Dealing with abandonware (2024)

#34

Post by hulitu »

userbinator wrote: post #14
banbangtuth wrote: post #9

Kinda off topic but related. But is it realistic these days to just expect software to write once and run forever? I am a TypeScript/Frontend guy by trade, but I always admire languages like Go. It seems like a simple language that I can write once and maintain forever or once in a blue moon. Everytime I want to write something in TypeScript and then I pull bunch of crazy dependencies, I began to question if it is wo…

If you use something like Win32 it probably will remain usable into the far future, especially with WINE and/or VMs. I have 30+ year old utilities that were originally written for Win95 but still work on Win11.

> probably

no. Pure win32, maybe, but as soon as vcredist or DirectX enters the scene, one is hopeless.

Re: Dealing with abandonware (2024)

#35

Post by hulitu »

close04 wrote: post #29
gyomu wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> is it realistic these days to just expect software to write once and run forever? Yes, but you have to put a bit of effort to make it so. For example, if you write your software as a ROM for an early game console (SNES/GBA/etc.), you can probably expect it to run for a very long time, as there will likely be people who want to play Final Fantasy 6 and Pokémon Silver for as long as computers are around. That's one e…

> there will likely be people who want to play Final Fantasy 6 and Pokémon Silver for as long as computers are around Is Final Fantasy 6 seeing a lot on new players today? Old games are played more by the people who enjoyed them when they were new. Even the landmark games are easily forgotten and younger players will never bother when they have so many modern choices.

> Even the landmark games are easily forgotten and younger players will never bother when they have so many modern choices.

www.gog.com

Features regularly on HN

Re: Dealing with abandonware (2024)

#36

Post by ben_w »

snickerer wrote: post #24

The horrors of non-free software... When I become king of the United Continents, I will make a new rule: If you don't publish high-quality updates for your software for one year, it will become open source automatically.

Mm. I think "any" update would be sufficient for 95% of cases, doesn't have to be high-quality.

Even if it's just the copyright date changing at least once per year, that tells you one specific named entity is claiming to care about it: when nobody does even that much, everyone automatically has the right to do whatever they want with the software.

Which reminds me, I need to update the copyright date on my website…

Re: Dealing with abandonware (2024)

#37

Post by aduty »

close04 wrote: post #29
gyomu wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> is it realistic these days to just expect software to write once and run forever? Yes, but you have to put a bit of effort to make it so. For example, if you write your software as a ROM for an early game console (SNES/GBA/etc.), you can probably expect it to run for a very long time, as there will likely be people who want to play Final Fantasy 6 and Pokémon Silver for as long as computers are around. That's one e…

> there will likely be people who want to play Final Fantasy 6 and Pokémon Silver for as long as computers are around Is Final Fantasy 6 seeing a lot on new players today? Old games are played more by the people who enjoyed them when they were new. Even the landmark games are easily forgotten and younger players will never bother when they have so many modern choices.

The modern choices are accompanied by ads and gambling, to the point that it wouldn't be surprising if Final Fantasy 6 was seeing an uptick. Go enjoy your "modern" games all you like, but it doesn't always matter if a games community is growing, especially if it's not one requiring connectivity to blast ads and skins at people.

Re: Dealing with abandonware (2024)

#38

Post by WillAdams »

banbangtuth wrote: post #9

Kinda off topic but related. But is it realistic these days to just expect software to write once and run forever? I am a TypeScript/Frontend guy by trade, but I always admire languages like Go. It seems like a simple language that I can write once and maintain forever or once in a blue moon. Everytime I want to write something in TypeScript and then I pull bunch of crazy dependencies, I began to question if it is wo…

I was a beta tester for Freehand/MX, and used Freehand and Altsys Virtuoso for decades before that --- it still running on Windows is why I still use Windows, and I despair of what I will use for vector drawing when it stops running.

None of the Inkscape devs are invested in Freehand's keyboard shortcuts and working techniques, Graphite doesn't even work with a stylus, Cenon is clunky beyond words and hasn't been upgraded in decades last I checked, Krita is pixel-oriented, and none of the note-taking programs really work for technical drawing/vector editing....

Re: Dealing with abandonware (2024)

#39

Post by theflyingelvis »

hulitu wrote: post #32
snickerer wrote: post #24

The horrors of non-free software... When I become king of the United Continents, I will make a new rule: If you don't publish high-quality updates for your software for one year, it will become open source automatically.

> If you don't publish high-quality updates for your software for one year, I don't think that Microsoft or Google will like this.

I don’t like it either but he’d be ‘king’ so it wouldn’t really matter if anyone liked it or not

Re: Dealing with abandonware (2024)

#40

Post by gus_massa »

theflyingelvis wrote: post #39
hulitu wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you don't publish high-quality updates for your software for one year, I don't think that Microsoft or Google will like this.

I don’t like it either but he’d be ‘king’ so it wouldn’t really matter if anyone liked it or not

It's not so easy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XVI
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