RE: [XaraXtreme-dev] Ping

["Scheper, Erik-Berndt" <erik-berndt.scheper@xxxxxxxxx>]

I agree with Rob on all points.

The linux version is good, but I'm sure community (including myself)
will not pickup until everything is open-sourced. 
I like XaraX (in fact, I also bought the Windows version and am still
considering buying Pro). I would certainly invest if XaraX Pro would be
migrated to linux as a commercial product. 

Regards,
Erik-Berndt Scheper


-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: owner-dev@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-dev@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Namens Rob Kendrick
Verzonden: donderdag 15 februari 2007 16:25
Aan: dev@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Onderwerp: RE: [XaraXtreme-dev] Ping


On Thu, 2007-02-15 at 15:03 +0000, Charles Moir wrote:
> > But the BIG question is still; what about CDRAW?
> 
> But why is this the big question?
> 
> The source code of all the product is available with the exception of 
> CDraw rendering core. This doesn't stop the product working. We make 
> the binary of this available for free to be distributed with Xara 
> Xtreme. (And increasing numbers of distros are distributing completely

> closed source products such as Flash Player and Adobe Reader, and most

> Linux users have these installed even where they are not distributed 
> as part of the OS). The lack of CDraw source code certainly doesn't 
> stop Xtreme being progressed and developed by any interested 
> developers if they were interested in helping us progress the product.

Actually, no - I think you're wrong.  Many people in the open source
world will take it much more seriously, and be more likely to help out
if it doesn't have any non-free dependencies.  Infact, it's becomming
increasingly like people are beginning to consider Xara's offer as
half-hearted :-/  (Not that I count myself among those who hold that
belief.)

> So isn't it a bit of red-herring to be focussed on this small part 
> only?

Most open-source people find the devil is in the details.

> We've held back on CDraw partly because it's simply not necessary to 
> have the source code of this to develop, improve, fix bugs, add new 
> features or all the other things that I'd imagine most users would be 
> looking for. It's obvious this part is complete, and works perfectly 
> well (as you can tell using the product), so why the fixation on 
> CDraw?

For the above reasons.  That, and distributions like Debian, Ubuntu,
etc, build on, run on, and support platforms other than the ones you
provide the binary lump for.

B.


Disclaimer:
This message contains information that may be privileged or confidential and is the property of Sogeti Nederland B.V. or its Group members. It is intended only for the person to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy, disseminate, distribute, or use this message or any part thereof. If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete all copies of this message.