Ethical dilemmas with an Open source and DLL or wrapped (paid) packages

Hi Ron,
I had a few thoughts regarding some of your comments.

How so? Dynamo nodes support a “kit of parts” style of thinking. Example: Rather than me (john) make an addin to “fix” a user’s dimensions strings, I simply give you the pieces to do it yourself in node form. (Ex. Below)

Tell me how the heck I am supposed to know that this is what the end-user wanted to accomplish as the end result had I built it as a single button add-in? Also, this specific example uses methods available in Dynamo (not the RevitAPI), combined with RevitAPI methods. The comment about “Creating Revit add-ins being faster” seems to have very little basis.


Are there any facts to support this? “Plug and chug” methodology with the python script editor is WAY faster than:

  1. Starting a Visual Studio Solution
  2. Building out the addin.
  3. Debugging
  4. Dismissing unsigned code windows constantly.
  5. And who knows what else.

Konrad has done this several times. There are a few others as well. As to why I make custom packages instead of doing this is simple. First, I personally don’t believe I am at the appropriate experience level to contribute in a meaningful way, and second, having a sense of branding and ownership is pretty cool. Considering all of the development I do on Dynamo is primarily free, I really like the idea of getting some credit and being able to receive feedback on my nodes.


Thankfully, Dynamo supports the ability to poke and prod at the API without learning all of that other stuff. Additionally, you have access to a bunch of free packages (open and non-open) to allow for you to explore further. That definitely is faster than reprogramming the API calls yourself :wink:


To round out my response. I have to say, I am in complete agreement with @Konrad_K_Sobon’s comments and I won’t touch on anything he mentioned any further.

The logic that is being presented in this thread is a bit troublesome to say the least. Using this logic, that means every Dynamo graph you have made needs to be immediately made public because Dynamo itself is open source. How does the idea of uploading all of your DYNs to here make you feel? I for one know a ton of people who would be firmly against an idea like that and would probably stop using Dynamo as a platform.

_*another thought… I may be off-base here. But to my understanding, there is nothing in the Apache license preventing people from building their own Dynamo and selling it, correct? I am referencing section 3 here, https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0_.

Also, the very definition of open source allows people to pretty much do with it as they please, https://opensource.org/docs/definition.html

Thanks for bringing this up though, it is a good discussion to have.

-John

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