Have you ever modified the source code of an open source application?

MEBF109 · 11-06-2020, 05:54 PM

...other than running other peoples scripts.

xerostomus · 11-07-2020, 12:27 AM

I agree it is problem. I do a lot programming in bash. I know it would be good to share, but I did not have enough energy to put it on GitHub. Or I would like to slightly modify gpicview, again I somehow lack the energy to learn GitHub. Other problem is my native language - all my variable are in Czech, so I have to rename it, all remarks translate to English, make the code nice to look at...
So big admiration and thank you to all who do so :-)

claasse4 · 11-07-2020, 05:45 AM

No :-)

tnut · 11-07-2020, 07:43 AM

Yes

- fork of pkgutils, became cards NuTyX package manager
- gpm: by that time they was an issue with compiling
- xterm swap background foreground by default
- fork of runit, became RuNyX NuTyX init system (how could I forgot)
- Forgot the rest

xlucas · 11-07-2020, 08:00 PM

Uhm... no. But I am a developer and I have indeed modified the source of my own code... I assume that doesn't count!

I am used to working alone and it's very hard for me to understand other people's code. I'm comfortable with C, but not with most 3rd party libraries. Another thing that discourages me from modifying a source is when the program has been made with an OOP language. I never liked OOP.

jpollard · 11-07-2020, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xlucas

Uhm... no. But I am a developer and I have indeed modified the source of my own code... I assume that doesn't count!

I am used to working alone and it's very hard for me to understand other people's code. I'm comfortable with C, but not with most 3rd party libraries. Another thing that discourages me from modifying a source is when the program has been made with an OOP language. I never liked OOP.

No. By default if the code doesn't have an open source licence it is copyrighted as strictly yours and no one else may use it, or modify it.

xlucas · 11-07-2020, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpollard

No. By default if the code doesn't have an open source licence it is copyrighted as strictly yours and no one else may use it, or modify it.

I'm talking about my own published software that is indeed free software. I usually publish under the GPLv3. But still, because it's my own software, I don't think it counts for this thread.

jpollard · 11-07-2020, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xlucas

I'm talking about my own published software that is indeed free software. I usually publish under the GPLv3. But still, because it's my own software, I don't think it counts for this thread.

ah. 6 of one half dozen of another.

Personally I think it would still count.

ButterflyMelissa · 11-08-2020, 12:21 PM

It was a small mod...just enough to cater my needs (something in the order of a period or a comma, no more than that)...and only for my needs. So it never got published...
But...I did learn the true value of open source...

HiroKawa · 11-08-2020, 06:34 PM

Yes)

mainly fix to compile error.

glennmcc · 05-12-2022, 08:31 PM

Yes... many, many modifications to Arachne SRC code.

I was a contributor since way back in 2000 even before Michael Polak released it as GPL

Now, I'm pretty-much the only one still maintaining its code.

http://glennmcc.org/

andrew.46 · 05-12-2022, 10:52 PM

I worked as a co-developer for the command line ripper abcde for several years. Calling it 'source code' is a bit of a stretch though: this application is actually a monstrously big bash script. I see I am still up the top in abcde:

Code:

#!/bin/bash
# Copyright (c) 1998-2001 Robert Woodcock <rcw@debian.org>
# Copyright (c) 2003-2006 Jesus Climent <jesus.climent@hispalinux.es>
# Copyright (c) 2009-2012 Colin Tuckley <colint@debian.org>
# Copyright (c) 2012-2019 Steve McIntyre <93sam@@debian.org>
# Copyright (c) 2015-2017 Andrew Strong <andrew.david.strong@gmail.com>
# This code is hereby licensed for public consumption under either the
# GNU GPL v2 or greater, or Larry Wall's Artistic license - your choice.

I had an incredible amount of fun while I was active there and I would probably be there still but the audio CD is arguably in meteoric decline so abcde became less and less relevant. Sad, but that's the way it goes...

techforay · 05-13-2022, 12:26 PM

I would really like to learn how to do this. Can someone get me started on the right path with learning about source code modifications.

glennmcc · 05-13-2022, 03:21 PM

IMO, step one is to learn how to write code in 'C'

Here's a starting point...

https://www.guru99.com/best-c-books.html

boughtonp · 05-13-2022, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glennmcc

IMO, step one is to learn how to write code in 'C'

The first step is to learn how to write code in the language used by the software you want to change.

(I modified dozens of applications in a handful of different languages before I found a reason to change one that happened to be written in C.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by techforay

I would really like to learn how to do this. Can someone get me started on the right path with learning about source code modifications.

As above, it almost always starts with wanting to fix a bug or add a feature to software you currently use. Thus you need to start by identifying what that is.

But this thread isn't a good place for a proper discussion on this - better to start a new thread with details in the Programming forum.