Re: space elevator

["muphicks" <muphicks@xxxxxxxxxx>]

First off I missed the original post due to my email server
been offline :( So I apologise in advance if I miss quote
the original poster.

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Henderson" <orbiter@aibs.org.uk>
> On Wed, 18 Dec 2002, DarkDAVE wrote:
>
> > 6) lastly but most importantly, would there be any legal problems
if i
> > design my own version of orbiter that can use all the 3rd party
modules? i
> > want to make an open source version but dont want to have to
re-invent the
> > entire sim, was hoping i could re-use the 3rd party modules so i
have less
> > work to do. Would there be anything wrong with my sim using the
Shuttle.H
> > file or making it compatible with it?

I don't think there are any problems with you reusing third party
add-ons
PROVIDED these addons have been released under a license that allows
you to do so. If the add-on is under a free software license then you
can
use it with no problems. However some add-ons for orbiter may have
been
released under a license which makes them free to use with orbiter,
but
says nothing about free for general use. If in doubt email the author
of the
add on.

Your other problem will be with addons that use the SDK, as this SDK
is copyright M.Schweiger you would have to check with him before
replicating the SDK interface to allow 3rd party addons written with
the
SDK to work with your version of Orbiter.

Before embarking on such a project, check with the addon developers
to see if they have a problem and check with martin before using any
of his code.

As to whether there is a legal requirement i don't know IANAL, but
it would morally be the right thing to do :)

>
[SNIP]
>
> Open source software is great if the person at the top of the tree
has
> plenty of time and there is a very good heirarchy in place. When
there
> isn't we see projects splitting all over the show (cf Emacs) and
things
> get messy. Martin's almost certainly a very busy chap and whilst
closed
> source puts a lot of pressure on him from a programming point of
view, it
> solves rather more problems by him simply being able to say "no, I
won't
> do anything for a few weeks".

My sentiments exactly. Orbiter is not just a lot of work, it is a
great
amount of very complex equations to enable it to be as accurate
a simulation as it is.

I have no idea what level of maths you have so this may or may not
be a problem.

If you are sure you are up to the maths challenges and know enough
about the calculations/equations for orbits, aerodynamics etc and
are willing to commit the amount of time required to create an open
version of orbiter, then I don't think anyone would have a problem.

As I said above though, just be very careful when you reuse other
peoples code, unless it has been released under a free license, you
will need to get permission from the original author.

>
> I understand your enthusiasm fully (I'd like a linux port, par
exemple --
> never can get that winex thang to work), but see how far you can go
> within the current framework for a few months before you decide on a
new
> project.

A linux port would be great :) Just a shame it would be too much
work with the current orbiter to remove all the DirectX calls and
replace them with OpenGL :(

>
> This is all, to be taken as friendly advice and nothing more, you
> understand.
>

Same here :)

Best of luck if you decide to go ahead. If not then how about some
addons :) We can always do with more add-on developers :)

Cheers,

Gary.



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