WR tools to go open-source ?

[Krom]

Starting with PTXTool (http://code.google.com/p/ptx-tool/) last week I'm planning to release all my tools as open-source. I chose Google.Code for that.

This grants several new possibilities:
- anyone can view the source and suggest his ideas and improvements
- anyone can download the source and compile it into working EXE with any changes/improvements
- new developers can join the coding team and make tools even better together
- issue tracker - anyone can submit a bug-report and see its status
- all changes to source are stored and thus one can download any version he exactly needs
- every change is logged, that helps to track down bugs

Now this requires some polling since other tools include password protection and making them open-source means that it will be weakened or gone at all. I've tried to find a way to keep passwords secure, but that is impossible:

MTKit2 - Models can be viewed without knowing the password. Passwords only blocks export to other formats. That means one can simple override export function password check.

EditCar - It has nothing in it except loader and saver functions.. putting those to secure DLL effectively equals to keeping whole tool unpublished.

AFC11/FVR Managers - those tools read editcar data irregardless of password presence and put it to games database. Opening these tools means that editcar data can be viewed along the way. Again putting read/merge functions to secure DLLs leaves nothing lefts to open.

STKit2 - this one can go open-source easily for it has no password data in it.

Other tools are hardly worth mentioning.

Discussion is welcome! (please keep it English)

[Basti93]

Even though I'd like to test things with for example the manager, in my opinion it will be better if you only publish Stkit and PTXTool Source codes. I mean - for example WR2 is the only game with possible password protection I know, and for example that made some modellers give tomwin permission to convert their cars to WR2 exclusively, just because in WR2 the modells can't just be exported using a tool because you don't know the password..

Editcar is similar, people partly try their absolute best to make the car drive as real as possible, and they won't like it when their work can just be opened..

It's sad to hear that the managers also can't be published then, but that will be ok I think..
(I still hope you'll be able to adjust the managers to newer Synetic Games yourself..)

So yeah, Stkit and PTXTool have to bee enough then.

[TomWin]

if u publish tools with "password data" code, I stop modding WR2 forever. Some people let me convert models to WR2 just only because it was safe and models couldnt be stolen or converted to other games. ie IceKid, Tonis, SF and more guys.
U are right Basti, I agree with u. well that would be just unfair after many years of modding when people trusted u and your tools. Ofcourse many will vote "Publish all tools" just to be able start take from game anything couldnt be till now.

[Mario_13]

TomWin schrieb:if u publish tools with "password data" code, I stop modding WR2 forever. Some people let me convert models to WR2 just only because it was safe and models couldnt be stolen or converted to other games. ie IceKid, Tonis, SF and more guys.
U are right Basti, I agree with u. well that would be just unfair after many years of modding when people trusted u and your tools. Ofcourse many will vote "Publish all tools" just to be able start take from game anything couldnt be till now.

Totally agree. Would be a pity to see later our mods modified and shared everywhere by noobs.

I vote to NOT share MTKit sourcecode.

[Flo V.]

I use the Passwort-Protection to keep my Models and EditCar-Settings save for other people/modders.

So I agree with the other post

Mfg
Flo

[volvo480]

I save my own moddels like dash view or Sterring because
i will not that other People Edit my moddels !
So i will not that all people of the world can modify my models.

MFG volvo480

[mk2]

Don't to that Krom. It will destroy the scene.

[Han Solo]

I was already talking about that already with Krom and it is a hard and not that easy decision.

First, I'd like to know if other games use password protection for their mods, which works in a way that only one person (here it is Krom) is able to change the tools (improve them) and knows how the password protection works?

Second, based on the answer "no" on my first question, I would make everything for free and open source. If that works with other communities, like R* or SimBin games, it will also work with Synetic games.
Second, based on the anser "yes" on my first question, I would only make the tools open source, which do not use password protection or let others use mods without password and state them as "their model" even when they have stolen it.

At the end, this is all a question Krom must answer himself. He is the man behind the modding tools, he never got paid for them and he is does not owe someone anything only because he coded the tools. No, it's the other direction, people should start and give him more respect and with that to all other modders, because without Krom the modding scene around Synetic game would be NOTHING!

Even when some think, what I can partly really understand, they mods can be stolen, what Krom thinks and did, is also very important.

Please don't get me wrong. I will not stay "ignore modder rights", you all should know me and the g.r. team thinks and works so to save the modder rights, but Krom is the man who made all possible. He must decide and no one should threaten him or the community in any way only because THE toolmaker himself wants to see how the tools could be improved when they are open source.


Bis denne, Han Solo

[TomWin]

Han Solo schrieb:I will not stay "ignore modder rights"

Han so that means u will fight if somebody take a model and sell somewhere like it happened on NFS community? u know it was serious problem and still isnt gone, stupid guys took many addon models from NFS because lack of file protections and was/is selling them For example I have converted models that are specific for WR2 and I could get them to convert because WR2 is one of most safe games.

If source code of the tools with password protection will be published, there will appear many tools like "MOX Unlocker" or so.
what is the reason of publish the code?
yes Krom did a lot, I cant imagine modding WR2 without his great work, free tools. And he did all to make modding safe, but with publish these tools codes, that will be a big dissapointment

[Han Solo]

Disappointment for you personally. Right and I understand that. But can you also understand my intention that I think it is not fair to threaten all in the community to stopp modding, when Krom releases his source codes?
Why works the GTA modding that good, why is rFactor so popular? Are those games different to Synetic games, that idiots are not interested in stealing the models?

I only think, no one is allowed to say "Krom, you must not publish the tools, otherwise I would stopp modding".

A strange but logical result for me is, to stop making the tools for free, than the password protection will stay and there are no arguments against it. But a free tool is a free tool and only because of the respect to some modders (who did much for the community) Krom can say "no, I don't publish the source" but he also can do it, when he thinks "let others improve them".

It is of course not easy to decide right. But I'm missing arguments and "I stopp modding" isn't an argument.

Just someone explain me, why other game communities working that good and are so big in modding even without password protected tool.


Bis denne, Han Solo