The Ethics of Updating for VB3 a VB2 Hack That You Didn't Write

[zajako]

Originally Posted by amykhar

A lot of popular hacks written for VB2 have not yet been ported over to VB3. If you are thinking about updating and releasing them, please consider the following:

1. Thou shalt not use anybody's code without their explicit permission.

2. It is good manners to let the original author of a hack have time to update their work before you pounce on it and claim authorship.

Now, if you know a better or different way to write an existing hack, the above statements don't apply. Just make sure that your work is original and that you get the original author's permission before you use their code.

Swiping code from others without credit is tacky and won't gain you a reputation as a master coder.

amen !

cause i want to port all my hacks

[Silverdawn222]

I pay money for Vbulletin not only for their support, but the awesome hack backbone you have here at VBulletin.org. Isn't it shameful that I knock on your door and someone says "write it yourself"? No one should ever demand that, especially not in this discussion. I can understand why people get upset at it: the code is existing in VB2 form already.

Example, the original author is John, the port author is James. Shouldn't you say, "New VB3 Hack by John, ported by James"?

[MindTrix]

Originally Posted by Silverdawn222

Example, the original author is John, the port author is James. Shouldn't you say, "New VB3 Hack by John, ported by James"?

Maybe yes, but only if that person has been given permission to port the hack over by the original author As stated in this thread it is NOT allowed, for anyone to port a hack without permission No-matter how much credit you give, you HAVE to have permission

[KuraFire]

Originally Posted by Logician

All hacks released here is open source which means you can check the source code, play with it and make many experiments which will help you learn PHP. You can do all these in your test board or real board and I agree that this will help you learn PHP or VB structure a lot. This is for sure allowed 100%.

according to Wayne they're not Open Source at all (in which case everyone on vb.org would now be a criminal for purposefully breaking the vB license). instead, they're Viewable Source, which has the difference with Open Source in that there are re-release restrictions (which are different with Open Source).

[MindTrix]

Lol got a point there

One thing im wondering and hope someone can clear up. How can you tell the difference between someone Coding a hack from scratch, and someone converting an existing one over? Surely the chances of the same code beeing used are pretty high.

[g-force2k2]

Originally Posted by Silverdawn222

I pay money for Vbulletin not only for their support, but the awesome hack backbone you have here at VBulletin.org. Isn't it shameful that I knock on your door and someone says "write it yourself"? No one should ever demand that, especially not in this discussion. I can understand why people get upset at it: the code is existing in VB2 form already.

Can you seriously understand? I don't think you can because if you don't write the hacks you don't know how much time hackers such as myself and other hardcore hackers spend creating hacks. For instance my first vb3 hack probably took me along 10 hours to complete although it is simple I made it as efficient and easy to install as possible.

And we aren't telling you as the person who installs hacks to "write it yourself". I think that you are confused, because we are telling this to members who think they can steal others work and use it as their own. We as hackers spend our free time to do you a favor, and since you take the luxury of using our work you should think about the time we put into our work and have the patience for the oringal author to update or port there work, and if not then perhaps another talented hacker is willing to make their own version, and if thats not the case then well I'm sorry, but you should try to spend countless hours on hacking for free only to have your work copied, stolen, etc.

Regards,
g-force2k2

[MindTrix]

I know just thinking about how to do the hack is taking me DAYS!!

[Link14716]

My shoutbox hack Beta 1 took me two days, and adding all these new features (a lot of them) and fixing a lot of bugs has taken me months. I'd be majorly pissed if someone ports it to vB4 before I have a chance to. (Wow, I'm thinking ahead...)

[MindTrix]

very lol, vB3 isnt even Gold yet :>

[Thanatos]

Actually, if you want to throw around copyright law, if you take someone's hack and modify it for use on your board, you are breaking their copyright.

But, as the they have made their stance clear, I agree it is useless to debate it. Their boards and they will run them however they like and thats fine.

TwtCommmish - I guess we will just have to disagree, but I think this thread very well shows the attitude very well between those who can code and those who can't. I would debate most hacks are released out of charity and good will. I never said those who can not code should be entitled to any kind of ownership over the code, I am not sure whree you came up with that. Please show me where I posted that.

g-force2k2 - I never said someone should take code and make it theirs. Please show where I posted that you should take someone elses code and claim it as your own. You didn't say everyone should learn to code? perhaps you should go back and read the excerpt of the quote I pulled from your own post.

Logician - I reiterate, not everyone can learn to code, despite your insistance that everyone can since all released code is open source. There can be a number of reasons one is unable to learn, they have been stated, even if you wish to ignore them. I am glad you have decided it is your place to decide what sacrifices I should make.

It seems pretty obvious the entirety of my posts weren't read or understood by a number of you, I don't think you read your own posts, you contridict yourselves further down even. It is interesting though that the ones whose typical stance it seems to be to say 'code your own stuff' are the ones who are so hostile and accusing (stealing/thief, etc) just because people do not agree with them. Very interesting. Like I stated, this thread shows the disparity between coders and non-coders very well and the attitudes that are seperating them.

I think I am through now though, its a circular arguement with no middle ground. The Orgs rules will be followed and enforced however they see fit, consistant or not and the disparity between people will remain as it has been in the past.

So for those that responded to my posts with:

support: thank you.
understanding: thank you.
hostility and misunderstanding: ...