>I think that the HyperCard arrangement allowed users to do two things:
>Create stacks which they could distribute as they please; and create
>enhancements to add to HyperCard itself or a stack, which they were also
>free to distribute as they pleased. The constant was HyperCard. There was
>only one official version from Apple, kind of a standard that anyone could
>create a stack for end expect anyone else to be able to run it. I'd like to
>see a standard version of FreeCard. A plug-in kind of facility would allow
>enhancements (like PhotoShop or Netscape), but the basic functionality would
>be universal. Nobody would be allowed to change it. Over time, some plug-ins
>would become extremely popular. After much deliberation, a committee could
>approve their inclusion in the basic structure of FreeCard thus making them
>available to everyone.
>
>When I say nobody would be allowed to change it, I was referring to the
>technical sense that if they change it, they must not redistribute it under
>the name FreeCard. The plug-in facility has the benefit of allowing the
>casual user to look in a folder and quickly identify every item that
>modifies the performance of their copy of FC. HyperCard made it difficult
>for the casual user to identify modifications.
Tom,
I think the general consensus was that the name would belong to us,
thus ensuring only we distribute a program under the name of
"FreeCard". Others could distribute modified versions but they
wouldn't call it FreeCard, thus removing the danger of having several
incompatible versions of the same program.
>By the way, I'm a technical writer. I met Uli on the 'net due to some common
>interests. I'm new here and I'm very excited about this project and the
>thoughtful people behind it. I know you won't need a tech writer here
>because this system will be so well designed that it explains itself.
Well, we still need someone to make sure the programmers' docs are
up to snuff. Especially the compiler will be so complicated that
without docs we'll be doomed.
Cheers,
-- M. Uli Kusterer
------------------------------------------------------------
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