What do you think about people wich release your hacks already for vb3?

[MindTrix]

Fair points there

[Link14716]

I only release hacks that I have totally recoded. (The shoutbox hack is one example, except for the templates, but I got permission to use those). I also ported the arcade hack, but I refuse to post it because I didn't recode it, I just made it work for vB3.

I see nothing wrong with releasing similar hacks for vB3 that were made on vB2 if they recode it from scratch.

[Nikidala]

Well, my personal feelings are:

If it is a "unique" idea (unique as in one that not every other forum software has, or maybe a non-major feature of say one forum), give the original hacker(s) a CHANCE to publish it themselves first (atleast). The "new" hacker could either contact the original hacker(s) to let them know that the "new" hacker coded there own and would like to share it, and ask the original hacker(s) if they plan on releasing a vb 3 version or atleast give them 2-3 months of vbulletin.org allowing vb 3 hacks (being the mainstream hack forum) to release it. AND, if you do release a hack that has already been released, give credit where credit is due. If you made the hack because the loved their vb 2 version or because you saw the title and thought "hey, I wanna try doing that one my own way", acknowledge the original hacker(s) work, imagination, and inspiration (to you) in your hack description.

I have seen many hacks with a intro saying something to the effect of "Many thanks goes to {person}. Their {original hack} was the insipiration for mine." or "My idea for the new and improved {hack} came from the great work of {person} on {original hack}." That way, they still get credit for their ingenius idea, good / great work, and original foresight inseeing that it would be a great hack... Now, don't copy their code, add a few lines, and think that adding a thank you will do, because that is even more of a slap in the face (besides being illegal in many countries, I don't know the laws in all countries)...

I see the hacks of this forum (and any other forum) as being a result of one of two options (again, personal feelings, I may be wrong):
1) The hacker saw / thought of an idea / feature that they wanted for their own forum, coded it, implemented it, loved it, and wanted to share it with the rest of the community (i.e. - major reason of hack was for personal use)
2) The hacker just wanted to create hacks that they thought people would want, but could live with or without it on their forum (i.e. - major reason was to release hack, whether for the betterment of the software, the community, or the hackers reputation )

If the "new" hacker fits into category one, then once they have it installed on their forum their appetite should be somewhat satisfied and the hack has fulfilled its reason for being. Waiting to release the hack for a few months or not releasing the hack at all should be not biggy, as releasing the hack would just be an added "benefit"...

If the "new" hacker fits into category two, then they shouldn't be coding the hacks that are already out there and created by someone else. Instead better the software, community, or especially their hacker reputation by creating a "new" hack. If the "new" hacker needs ideas as to what people want or what hack to create, they could vist my vb 3.1 feature suggestion thread on vbulletin.com. There are oodles and oodles of great suggestions in there. So of the suggestions are already hacks, but I have a feeling that a lot are not... The could find one that grabs their interest, check if a hack already exists, and if not have at it. Then, they have not only added to the software / community as a whole, but also created a name for themselves by being the FIRST to release that hack... It is not like we are at a stagnant put in the forum, where the forum contains every possible idea / feature or a hack exists for every idea / feature. Their is a virtual catalog of ideas already compiled AND desired (those are all features suggested by fellow members / forum owners) in one easy to access place...

Well, those are my personal feelings on the topic... Of course, I don't have any hacks yet, so I may think differently once I do...

On a side note, what you y'all think of (once vbulletin.org allows vb 3 hacks) me releasing my own spellchecker? I just modified my spellchecker that I created for phpBB to work for vb 3, and was hoping to release it as my very first hack (and it even works on the WYSIWYG editor, well sort of, I have a few tweaks to finish with the extra html crap the WYSIWYG creates but almost there). BUT, I don't want to step on any toes or offend anyone (I am assuming that one or several people already have spellchecker hacks for vb 2 out), so do you think I should or not? I don't mind not releasing it, but I have read several times on vbulletin.com that people have their spellcheckers working in vb 3 minus the WYSIWYG... So, yah or nah?!?

[Lesane]

Originally Posted by Faranth

to be fair im suprised Lesanes hack is as popular as it is considering how badly it sucks and how many security holes it opens up.

but i belive my point still stands. from my post up there

If you can find any security holes in my store hack then i am more then pleased to hear it from you. Maybe you should look better on the code or script before you judge it.

Try to come with a direction of 'why' it sucks.

Originally Posted by Faranth

if i DID develop some store hack id probally give credit to whoever helped me. not Lesane, while he did his store hack i know it had been done before on other forums, regardless of it being public

Again, maybe you should look better before you say anything. Shinraonline was one of the first vb forums with a store hack, i gave them credit since day 1 on my first post. :ermm:

[Sophocle]

Sometimes, the difference between new code on an ancient idea (allowed) and couterfeiting (forbidden) is very slight. This question should be resolved soon because troubles are going to happen. We have opened a thread in our forum (www.vbulletin-fr.com) to discuss this subject.

In the french community, we have collected permissions from authors before translating hacks. But some of them have made hacks on ideas of other coders. Must we control the old versions ? For instance, you can see this link. We have the permission to translate Gary W's hacks but we do not have the permission of g-force2k2. I've read the 2 hacks and I do not find similar code but I dont't want to hurt g-force2k2. It would be better to create a clear rule to define what is allowed and what is prohibited.
An idea is not protected but if we don't want to lose plenty of coders, we should be careful to respect the original ideas.

To be careful, I have to stop the release of the french translation of this hack. I think this situation is very bad.

[SloppyGoat]

First of all, I do see the dilemna here, but I'm not sure there's anything you can do about it. If someone is good enough with PHP to figure it out, they're not going to wait until you decide to redo the hack. I know, if I knew PHP, I'd be hacking my board like crazy. Although, if I did happen to release it as an "official hack", I'd surely credit the original creator.

Second, what forum? Where are there some new vB3.0 hacks??? I'd love to see them!

[edit] Ah...I see. vbnl. :up:

All it is, is competition. Of course a lot of the original hackers may whine about how it's not fair... probably because that other hack could become BETTER than theirs.

The two could put their ideas/php skills TOGETHER and make an even better hack. But, that may not happen because some rather say "MINE MINE MINE, ALL MINE!." :ermm:

[g-force2k2]

Originally Posted by Sophocle

In the french community, we have collected permissions from authors before translating hacks. But some of them have made hacks on ideas of other coders. Must we control the old versions ? For instance, you can see this link. We have the permission to translate Gary W's hacks but we do not have the permission of g-force2k2. I've read the 2 hacks and I do not find similar code but I dont't want to hurt g-force2k2. It would be better to create a clear rule to define what is allowed and what is prohibited.
An idea is not protected but if we don't want to lose plenty of coders, we should be careful to respect the original ideas.

First off if you compared the two hacks you would clearly see the explicit copyrights of my hack. Secondly I was not even credited for absolutely nothing in the release. Thirdly I fail to see how the two hacks have that much of a difference in coding. You say that they aren't similar? No disrespect but I find that insulting, because I can clearly see the exact similarities. He made a few changes in the code to suite the page navigation and the vbphrases but other then that he used the code that I had created, the time calculating function that I created. Sure the templates are different, but other then that I see very little differences. If you really want to port over Gary W.'s, I'd advise not too. There's a lot of things I would do different from what I had first created in order to optimize it for vb3. Other then that I can say my copyrights were not respected the least bit, and if that is the respect that I will get then I'd rather not hack for vb3, because personally I don't even have a live forum I just hack vb for the purposes to create modifications for others to use.

Regards,
g-force2k2

[Dean C]

Sophocle - I think you'll find that with the introduction of the phrases system that if people only provide a myhack_phrases.php file then you're site offering translations will become redundant.

[Sophocle]

I don't think so. Phrases must be translated and I don't know a lot of good translators.
G-Force, I didn't want to judge if Gary W copied or not your hack. I just tried to put the stress on an example of copy/adaptation trouble.