[REBOL] free REBOL?
From: mh9831:comcast at: 1-Aug-2003 13:51
I know there has occasionally been discussions for or against REBOL being open
source. I think RT's logic makes sense for REBOL not being open source. But
how about the runtime and sdk being free? I mean with all the capabilities,
rather than the free version missing sound and shell access and library access?
I don't think Java or Python would be as popular as they are today if developers
had to pay to use all of their features. Right now with REBOL, if you use any
of these 'extra' features, you're forced with the decision to either purchase
encap so that your program can be used by anyone without them having to buy
REBOL, or making anyone who wants to use your program buy their own REBOL license.
Any chance that things such as View/Pro might become free, similar to the Java
sdk/runtime? Is RT making that much money off of these licenses? It seems
logical that more people might be inclined to use REBOL if they didn't have to
pay to use all the features, and more REBOL developers would be good for RT. I
know I'd never suggest my company use REBOL because I know I can accomplish the
same things with python, ruby or Java for free, even though I like using REBOL.
And I certainly wouldn't consider it for a commercial project if faced with the
choice of giving RT a percentage of my profits or just writing it in another
language and keeping all the profits myself.
Sorry if this has been brought up before. I was just curious.
mike
