[RANT] VB Hack Sites

[j_86]

Why do people make non-official hack forums, where 90% of the hacks featured on there are featured on this website?

It just allows those with no legit licenses to make use of the VB mod community... I really fail to see the point in making them.

Any comments?

[Chris Gwynne]

Any site you're talking about in particular? I have a feeling I know which you're talking about, but suprise me.

[j_86]

I'm not talking about any in particular, but I know there are bundles of very small hack communities which do not offer the license validation this place does, or other international VB subisdary communities.

[Liquid1ce]

*Cough* vbhacks.us

*Whistles* That place is just an attraction for unliecenced fxp boards

[amykhar]

Not to address the licensing issues, but I can see a reason why other hack sites exist. Because this is the "official" hack site, it must meet Jelsoft's needs, and not necessarily the needs of the hacking community. But, to be honest, I have not seen any unofficial site that meets that need either - the unofficials are just release sites like this one, and not geared toward developer conversation and collaberation.

[Regs]

A popular hack here needs more tools than are presently available here. I think that's the benefit of having other "homes" for them.

The usefulness of a support thread starts to bog down exponentially after the 50 - 100th post in my opinion.

That being said, I've only found one good "support" domain for a hack featured here and that is vbadvanced.com - others should take note of that site if they want to really go that route... Brian should be recognized somehow as the "star" hack support person as every other person(s) here who have tried the same thing have fallen painfully short

Cheers,

~Regs.

[Colin F]

Like amykhar said, some hack sites are there so that there is a place where one can release hacks without being concerned with the rules and limitations put in place here by Jelsoft.

Taking the vBhosting hack as an example, there *are* legitimate uses for that hack, and disallowing it is just making it harder for those that have a legitimate use for it.

And also observe that on vbhacks (I don't know about the others), hacks are only released by their coders, and aren't just copied without permission from here.
And as it's not the coders problem to check if everyone has a valid license, why shoudn't they offer their work there as well...

[Rose]

I can see valid reasons for other 'hack sites'. Especially when it comes to paid-for hacks that this site does not allow. But if I were to release a hack, I'd *most likely* release it here only to help ensure it doesn't get into the hands of an unlicensed person.

[Dean C]

I don't want to open up a can of worms again regarding vBhosting, but I agree with what you said Colin that it has legtitimate uses. No-one ever questioned that, but the fact is Jelsoft deemed that it's leasing out vBulletin to your users, therefore you need seperate licenses

[13th_Disciple]

I can see the lid coming off that can, Dean..