Which do you prefer - free visible-code (crippled) OR free encrypted-code?

[delaen1]

I've paid for many "encrypted source" products. Windows, Office, etc.

But with code that I need to integrate deeply into the core of my product (a forum in this case), I wouldn't even consider it. Only a fool would. Even if it were free, from a trustworthy source, and did exactly what I needed it to do.

It's just way too risky. Things change, and when they do I need to be able to modify my product to compensate. I'm not going to rely on an outside source to make those changes when they easily could go out of business, die, not care, jack up their prices, or at the very least would obviously have other priorities in their world (like running their own business).

If it were just a hobby we're talking about, I'd consider it. Who gives a crap then.

[akanevsky]

Originally Posted by Gary Bolton

I would never install a free hack with encrypted code, you don't know what your installing. Whats stopping a person from adding spyware that you know nothing about because the code is encrypted. Also like another person mentioned, it takes away the ability to customize the code to suit your own site and also check code for bugs that might have been overlooked.

Following your logic, do you check windows software that you buy, such as photoshop or microsoft office, for spyware or bugs? Why not?

It's just way too risky. Things change, and when they do I need to be able to modify my product to compensate. I'm not going to rely on an outside source to make those changes when they easily could go out of business, die, not care, jack up their prices, or at the very least would obviously have other priorities in their world (like running their own business).

You are a user of Microsoft Windows. What are you going to do if Microsoft goes out of business? Would you develop Windows on your own? This does not make any sense to me...

[davidw]

With all due respect, on the two previous responses, wasn't the topic referring to "free?" Not that I don't see a point here, its just I'm wanting it to stay on topic.

[delaen1]

Originally Posted by Psionic Vision

You are a user of Microsoft Windows. What are you going to do if Microsoft goes out of business? Would you develop Windows on your own? This does not make any sense to me...

Windows isn't key to my business. Or at the very least it's not an irreplaceable part. If Microsoft went out of business I'd probably try to hide in the basement of a very large building, avoiding the roving bands of bandits who were trying to rape my wife and steal my children to sell on the new black market. Then I'd install Linux.

I would do these things because if Microsoft goes out of business, it means the Apocolypse has come.

And you missed my point. Windows isn't something that *I'M* attempting to make money off of. My forum is. It's foolish to leave something like that entirely in the hands of someone else.

Let's pretend for a second that Apple bought the GUI application that runs the Ipod from another company. Do you really think they'd put something like a closed-source, proprietary, untweakable system like that on their premier product? Of course not. Apple isn't retarded. They know there's going to be a second generation of Ipods coming out shortly, so they better have access to that code to make the changes they need or someone is going to be thrown through a wall at Apple Headquarters.

You're doing the same thing when you install a closed-source system on something like Vbulletin. Like I said, if this is just a hobby for you, great, who gives a shit (but then why you'd be paying for software like vbulletin in the first place, let alone a hack is beyond me). But if you're attempting to make money, you're just like bizarro Apple up there.

Hell, even the guys at Jelsoft realize this. Why do you think they haven't encoded vBulletin yet? Because it would kill their sales. Sure, it would probably be pirated less often, but that's only because 4 people would have the opportunity to spread it.

[MRGTB]

Stupid idea if you ask me. And comparing a giant like Microsoft, saying they encrypt code to some person here creating a hack for free with encrypted code is just ludicrous. There worlds apart from each other!

Why not compare programs like "eMule" instead which is an open source program with no encryption, instead of picking MS out the hat to try and validate the whole idea. Or as mentioned above, even Jelsoft who refuse to do it also.