On Tuesday 21 October 2003 12:29, Rob Hooft wrote:
Nikola Smolenski wrote:
I propose that critical part of source (one that
reads and writes data on
Wikipedia), with the enhancements that Louis proposed, should be stored
in a library which would be freely distributable but closed source. Then
the rest of the bot code could be released open source.
Unfortunately that will not work, as the 'bot is written in python,
which is source code or VM code which can be easily disassembled. And
even without disassembly it is easy to "modify" the library in a running
program.
Then perhaps it could be non-free open source. If someone wants to make a bot,
he would ask Wikimedia for the source, if Wikimedia agrees it wold give the
source with legal obligation that it is not spread further.
I don't see what the problem is. A vandalbot and a well-behaved bot are
two different things. The common code is only a small proportion. As
long as sysops are not shy about blocking clueless, unapproved bots, I
have no problem with making the code public.
-- Tim Starling.