Re: [linux-audio-dev] Tracker

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Subject: Re: [linux-audio-dev] Tracker
From: Juan Linietsky (coding_AT_reduz.com.ar)
Date: Fri Nov 28 2003 - 04:08:16 EET


> Generally, musicians don't give a toss whether something is
> free(Opensource) or not (let the flaming begin)

I dont really now what you mean, but I guess most of the
people on this list are not musicans then.

Open source is a methodology of working, both for users
and developers. We've already seen cases when
software of closed nature goes unmantained and stops
working on later versions, and there were discussions
of this kind on the list in such cases. That is why
most of us musicans or not, have preference
for open source instead of free but closed.
Skale Tracker has suffered this before (when it was
called Fast Tracker 3) and i think to the day, a lot
of people still thinks the project is dead because of that.
The same thing happened with Fast Tracker2 or
Impulse Tracker, when they went unmantained...
it was impossible to continue work on it mainly due
to it's closed nature, leaving all the users in
the dust, unable to make use of the latest advances
in audio world.

I dont say Jeffrey Lim or the Triton guys are at fault
for this, as they are on their own right. But you
cant blame me for warning about a program of this
nature.

>
> Look, spend your effort giving the guy a pat on the back and stop
> sh*tting on his efforts to bring a decent music program to the linux
> community. He probably knows nothing about binary compatibility! Give
> him a hand if you feel it's an issue.
>

I usually mail the authors when I find some piece of software useful
for ME congratulating them. It is not the case with Skale Tracker,
Why should I do this? Do you congratulate people on every release you see here
announced on this list? In any case, if you wish to know, I do have contact
ocasionally with people working on the project.

Regarding LADSPA support, my concerns were more regarding to license,
and JACK support is hard since jack is upgraded too often, making older
apps not working, just to sum to the picture of binary compatibility
and closedness. It's not that I think it's bad, it just happens.

> Ok, so I'm guessing you have something to do with cheesetracker and
> don't like similar programs or something? They are not equivalent.
>

I am the author of CheeseTracker, however, what I dislike is
what happens to programs of closed nature when their authors,
being a person or a company, dont take responsability on them anymore.

> Given the
> encouragement, his venturing into linux territory may spread to these
> areas. Saying it's crap because of X,Y and Z will ultimately end up
> being bad for the linux musicians community not him (he can spend all
> his time accommodating the windows users who really appreciate his
> efforts).

Wait a moment, I've never said a word that the program is crap, that
is purely your interpretation. He is free to do whathever he wishes
with it, althought as far as I am concerned, most linux tracker friends I have
talked to feel the same way. Most of us went through enough
when we couldnt use their favorite apps anymore because they didnt run anymore
or became obsolete regarding to new technologies (And i'm not talking just
about trackers here), and they dont want that happening again. They have
learned that open source software doesnt die until maybe when it gets
replaced by something better. So let those who would rather not
use closed source software say "Thanks, but no thanks".

Juan Linietsky


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