Open source, LC server and revigniter

[Richard Gaskin]

Dave Kilroy2 wrote:
> Yes I agree, I don't see how RunRev will get any reward for having a server
> version - and if they don't get any reward for it then it may be less likely
> to be developed on an on-going basis.

When you think about it, LiveCode Server isn't much different from the 
main engine:  the merge function is extended and implicit, and the GUI 
handling is turned off automatically so you don't need to pass "-ui" to it.

With the if-defs they use to compile it already set up, I can't imagine 
it's much work to maintain it going forward.


> Or maybe RunRev are happy to have the server version as a loss-leader?

Yes.

The AGPL was created for one fairly recent project, Affero (the "A" in 
"AGPL") in 2007.

It's useful if that's what you need, but it's one of the least commonly 
used licenses around, often considered too strict for most projects. 
I'd be surprised if as many as a dozen other projects have adopted it 
thus far.

Meanwhile, MySQL has flourished under GPL.  Most of us use it for free, 
but when you need to bundle your app with it then you get to have a 
conversation with Oracle's licensing department; same with LiveCode Server.

LiveCode is nearly unmatched for making multi-platform GUI apps, but 
LiveCode server doesn't have nearly the competitive advantages over 
readily-available alternatives.

PHP, for example, has a vast community, uncountable libraries, books, 
and tutorials available, and is already both multi-threaded and 64-bit 
compatible.  Moreover, PHP is available for free under the very 
permissive PHP License, and is pre-installed on most commercial hosting 
systems.

LiveCode's syntax has some nice conveniences, but for serious work its 
main benefit is for those who need to share code used also in 
LiveCode-based GUI apps, or to rely on coding skills acquired from using 
LiveCode in GUIs.

As a for-fee product, LiveCode Server is a hard sell.  But available for 
free use under GPL, it would at last have a chance to enchant newcomers 
with its unusually inviting syntax.

--
  Richard Gaskin
  Fourth World
  LiveCode training and consulting: http://www.fourthworld.com
  Webzine for LiveCode developers: http://www.LiveCodeJournal.com
  Follow me on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/FourthWorldSys