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

glennmcc · 05-13-2022, 08:12 PM

All very good points... that you for elaborting upon my (insufficiently precise) reply.

teckk · 05-14-2022, 07:42 AM

Quote:

I would really like to learn how to do this.

pan64 · 05-14-2022, 08:55 AM

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.

Do you mean you want to modify the source code of an open source application?
So download it, use an editor and modify what you want. That's all.

The real question(s) would be: what do you want to modify and why do you want to modify it?
So you need to have a goal, an improvement idea or a bugfix or whatever. But first you need to know the application and you need to be able to build it. Also you need to check your modification, validate the result (if it is really better and does not cause any trouble). And finally you need to release and document it.

rado84 · 05-18-2022, 03:59 PM

Yes. The code of gnome-screenshot. I don't remember anymore at which version GNOME introduced the idiotic flash when taking screenshots. I requested an option to disable it but they refused (typical...), I downloaded the source and removed from it anything even remotely related to the "cheese flash" as they had named it. That worked for some time but then they decided to impose their crap by updating one or a few other libraries related to GNOME which brought the stupid flash back. Since I was unable to find the culprit library in order to edit it, I kicked the damn thing in its @ss and installed scrot. I've been using scrot ever since. As it turned out scrot is a lot better than gnome-screenshot bc I don't have to edit the source in order to change the output filename and the quality of the screenshot, all that can be done by options in the command itself.

pan64 · 05-19-2022, 12:38 AM

In that case you need to open a new thread about it, because it is offtopic in this poll. Post your findings and some other details and we can try to help you to go further.

Dr_Evil · 07-18-2022, 02:36 PM

Yes, and still do often, like integrating VPN software connection results into Truenas, or making sure all my hardware works properly, as I like it, into my distro of choice ;-)

ptf · 07-18-2022, 04:50 PM

This poll needs a "yes, and contributed the changes back upstream" option.

rogerxx · 07-19-2022, 01:59 PM

(Use to modify/write computer source code) ... all the time until I bought a God d*mn house!

On the flip, nowadays and being a guy at heart, love spending money at my favorite hardware box store.

A prior open source writer/author, I was long ago associated with, also bought a house ... and likely ended-up doing the same darn thing! Except he sort of likely fell completely off the (open source software) grid due to having the all-included house package deal of a wife and kids. From photos, he now has a really nice self-remodeled kitchen!

So, word from the wise, if you love writing open source code, either live like a hermit or spend all of your hard earned cash on well maintained rentals? If you're a MS employee, buy a new house and preach open source should not be commercialized?

ruthm · 07-22-2022, 02:29 AM

yes, for the last couple of years i've been working with friends to support the use of OpenEMR which is being used to support homeless people, especially during the covid-19 pandemic. I've contributed one or two functions, and fixed a but or two.

it's very satisfying doing this!

many, many years ago I fixed a bug in a unix kernel, but that wasn't really in the context of open source - i did it while working at GE for their port of the o.s

danden · 02-01-2023, 04:21 PM

Seems a re-occuring theme here. In the past, a lot more. Back in my gentoo ricer days it was very very frequently. These days, most projects are pretty mature and don't need a whole lot of effort put in. I do still hack on a few things every now and then but kudos to the devs across the board for making things so easy.

andypal · 02-01-2023, 04:52 PM

i do not make my hands dirty

ember1205 · 02-01-2023, 05:30 PM

Prior to the 1.0 kernel, I often had to track down oddities in kernel driver modules and edit the code to make it work.

kakarotoanderson · 02-01-2023, 10:08 PM

I still haven't got a source code to change it, but as soon as I finish my college studies I intend to

ewilcox · 02-01-2023, 10:25 PM

I have reported bugs on several occasions (not recently), but (as the title states) I'm not a programer.

ivanleo · 02-02-2023, 03:26 AM

I wrote a bit of code for WINE and I tweaked a device driver once as it wouldn't compile, the latter wasn't a substantive change though.