kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Dick Hollenbeck <dick@...>]

Tim Hanson wrote:
> > > We are quite impressed with Kicad software. Congratulations and many
> > > thanks for creating this tool.
>
> I don't quite think they get it.. you can't just take it and say "thanks..."
>
>
> > > We are a PCB design and manufacuting company: please see our website:
> > > www.protoexpress.com <http://www.protoexpress.com/> .
> > > We would like to use Kicad engine ( sourcecode) in a PCB design
> > > workbench that we plan to customize for our manufacturing facility and
> > > available on our website for general PCB designers.
>
> I'd prefer Dick's option # 1 -- then we could all use whatever
> enhancements they decide to contribute, and they are forced to be very
> honest & not lock-in like Frank points out. I doubt they are going to
> give us free PCBs. Am I going to give kicad developers free wireless
> neural recording devices because I use kicad? probably...no. All I
> can give are my (hopefully) useful features / bugfixes in exchange for
> being able to both use it and modify it. That is the economy -- I
> saved money by not buying Eagle & in return tried to contribute time
> -- and they should play by the same rules. The fact that they are
> asking permission means that they know they are doing something not
> quite right!! (If they just wanted to svn co and compile, you would
> not have heard from them)
>
> A branch is slightly worse; if they add good features it will take
> somebody time to merge them. This involves many details, and you know
> where the devil is ;) Probably they want to add buttons for instant
> ordering like PCB123 - maybe that stuff is better in a branch.
>
> IMHO, Just tell them to become a developer on SF & give checkin
> rights. I don't want anybody making undue profits from the software
> either.

Profits are not the problem. Actually making profit is a good thing, as 
long as those making the profit are the ones entitled to make a profit: 
the code's owners or those that support it.

> I doubt they are going to
> give us free PCBs. Am I going to give kicad developers free wireless
> neural recording devices because I use kicad? probably...no. 


Is this supposed to be analogous? It is not. A PCB design company 
using Kicad as its primary tool for gathering job opportunities not 
quite the same as you using the tool in an ancilliary manor.

I would encourage them to give me free PCB's, because that might keep me 
interested in contributing beyond what I am currently working on. 

I am not a hobbyist developer. I fear the end is very near for me. My 
time is simply too valuable.


Dick