Re: [flexcoders] Re: Out of curiosity, what would Adobe lose if Flash were open sourced?
Yes, I did, and it is enough to view the flash graphics. And, of course it doesn't really execute any AVM2 bytecode. What I was trying to say in my previous posts is that *would be* (would be is accented if you cannot see the HTML formatting) great if Adobe had given more thinking to supporting this initiative as well as other initiatives concerning the SWF format usage. I encourage you (not you in particular, but anyone interested) to go and read this: http://ncannasse.fr/blog/open_source_flash?lang=en http://ncannasse.fr/blog/back_in_2005?lang=en These aren't really happy articles, they are rather frustrating... The current state of things is that the tools existing on Linux for developing for flash are almost nil, or are so bad that you won't want to use them. Start with that the debug player installation is broken and it was probably never tested because the shell script which has to install the player contains syntax errors... Now to format openness and what it means and what's the fuss is all about. Well, this is my understanding and what I conclude from all I've read from Richard Stallman and many others respected OSS admirers. The intention of OSS is to prevent one company, which had circumstantially acquired a knowledge or technology from restricting others from using the same knowledge. That is, once you invent a bicycle and then you discover the bicycle was already invented, the fact you have also discovered it should be valid enough to let you use it the way you see fit. This, on the other hand doesn't mean that you have any right to demand from another inventor to implement the changes that you want to his own invention. Think of you being the other inventor, you would immediately comprehend the situation. I do take part in three OSS projects. I also have submitted requests for changes / patches - some were implemented, some weren't. This is up to the projects owner to implement them, and if I believe the project's owner is wrong not applying my patch, then, sorry, but I have no other choice, but to start my own project, where I would do it as I want. However you want it or not, this is true when speaking about SWF format. I can submit a patch or post an improvement request, and it is in the right of the original developer (Adobe) to apply or reject my patch. What is true though regarding OSS community vs Adobe relationships is that they are far from being perfect... It is often times to difficult to communicate your ideas to Adobe engineers... (yet it is definitely possible) It is also true that Adobe seldom mentions or even agrees to admit other flash-related projects exist. I have so far not seen any official statement from Adobe PR people regarding HaXe, SWFTools and others of this kind. Best. Oleg
Re: [flexcoders] Re: Out of curiosity, what would Adobe lose if Flash were open sourced?
On Tuesday 04 May 2010 00:48:25 you wrote: With the swf format being documented, and available, in theory there could be plenty of different implementation of the Flash Player. And there are, such as Gash. I believe the open source community has issue with the license the spec. is released under, like if you read it you agree not to write a Player or something. -- Tom Chiverton Helping to administratively restore 24/7 B2C innovative visionary applications as part of the IT team of the year 2010, '09 and '08 This email is sent for and on behalf of Halliwells LLP. Halliwells LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales under registered number OC307980 whose registered office address is at Halliwells LLP, 3 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3EB. A list of members is available for inspection at the registered office together with a list of those non members who are referred to as partners. We use the word ?partner? to refer to a member of the LLP, or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications. Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. CONFIDENTIALITY This email is intended only for the use of the addressee named above and may be confidential or legally privileged. If you are not the addressee you must not read it and must not use any information contained in nor copy it nor inform any person other than Halliwells LLP or the addressee of its existence or contents. If you have received this email in error please delete it and notify Halliwells LLP IT Department on 0870 365 2500. For more information about Halliwells LLP visit www.halliwells.com.
Re: [flexcoders] Re: Out of curiosity, what would Adobe lose if Flash were open sourced?
Tom, Gash is not it's name... It's called GNash (GNU + Flash), gash is something else... ;)
[flexcoders] Re: Out of curiosity, what would Adobe lose if Flash were open sourced?
But, none of the alternate players out there are 100%. Making their source available, it'd probably bring a flood of alternate players. Damn nation! opening the source code of Linux will bring myriads of other linuxes! This agression will not stand!
[flexcoders] Re: Out of curiosity, what would Adobe lose if Flash were open sourced?
Gnash !?!? Di you try use it? --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Tom Chiverton tom.chiver...@... wrote: On Tuesday 04 May 2010 00:48:25 you wrote: With the swf format being documented, and available, in theory there could be plenty of different implementation of the Flash Player. And there are, such as Gash. I believe the open source community has issue with the license the spec. is released under, like if you read it you agree not to write a Player or something. -- Tom Chiverton Helping to administratively restore 24/7 B2C innovative visionary applications as part of the IT team of the year 2010, '09 and '08 This email is sent for and on behalf of Halliwells LLP. Halliwells LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales under registered number OC307980 whose registered office address is at Halliwells LLP, 3 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3EB. A list of members is available for inspection at the registered office together with a list of those non members who are referred to as partners. We use the word ?partner? to refer to a member of the LLP, or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications. Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. CONFIDENTIALITY This email is intended only for the use of the addressee named above and may be confidential or legally privileged. If you are not the addressee you must not read it and must not use any information contained in nor copy it nor inform any person other than Halliwells LLP or the addressee of its existence or contents. If you have received this email in error please delete it and notify Halliwells LLP IT Department on 0870 365 2500. For more information about Halliwells LLP visit www.halliwells.com.
[flexcoders] Re: Out of curiosity, what would Adobe lose if Flash were open sourced?
As I understand it, certain pieces of The Flash Player it are licensed from other companies and included. Such agreements probably do not give Adobe the ability to distribute source code. One thing that comes to mind i that Flash Player would lose The ability to play H.264 video. I don't think open sourcing the Flash Player would have any effect on the ability of other developers to create Flash based IDEs. --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Baz li...@... wrote: I don't know much about how to answer this, so I'm not trying to take a position or anything: purely out of curiosity, what would Adobe lose if Flash were open sourced? Is it that competitors would more easily be able to make competing IDEs? Cheers, Baz
[flexcoders] Re: Out of curiosity, what would Adobe lose if Flash were open sourced?
With the swf format being documented, and available, in theory there could be plenty of different implementation of the Flash Player. But, none of the alternate players out there are 100%. Making their source available, it'd probably bring a flood of alternate players. Since the Flash Player is available for free, I'm unclear how open sourcing it would affect revenue. If there were more Flash Player options, I think there would be more demand for tools to create Flash Applications. On the flip side, if there were a lot of inconsistent implementations of the player, it may hurt the platform as a whole. --- In flexcoders@yahoogroups.com, Karim Beyrouti ka...@... wrote: I think ( just a guess ) - they want to avoid different implementations of the flash player - with different players supporting different features... that could cause problems ( sounds like a headache to me ) ... however - if they can avoid that - it could then also be a question of revenue. i think an open source player - controlled by 'adobe' could be a great thing. Also, one thing i have been wondering about lately, and can't think of an answer... Director shockwave was quite fast and had ok 3D ( a little out of date now ). Used to really like director... why can't do the same with the flash player today... i know historically they want to keep distributable file size low - and reach the lowest common denominator - however - i just wonder why is this not achievable now days... - k On 4 May 2010, at 00:19, Baz wrote: I don't know much about how to answer this, so I'm not trying to take a position or anything: purely out of curiosity, what would Adobe lose if Flash were open sourced? Is it that competitors would more easily be able to make competing IDEs? Cheers, Baz
Re: [flexcoders] Re: Out of curiosity, what would Adobe lose if Flash were open sourced?
Flash Player is free for using, but not for redistribution. If you want to embed it in your application (if it's not the ActiveX purchased by MS for example), then you have to pay (or find some old and suspicious agreement with Macromedia - like MDM Zinc ;) ). I have no idea of how high the revenues may reach from selling the player in this later context, but that's one way to think about it.
