Hi,

Is there someone out here who can help me out completing the last fase of the software written by someone else?
I want to speed up the process but the original compiler is out of time.

Greetings, Simon

Hi Simon,

welcome to LQ

without a bit more context, like:

• what that software is supposed to do?
• what is or will be the license? (open source?)
• in what language is it written?
• a link to what's already done (in a git repository, as a source tarball, whatever)

we can't evaluate our ability to help you.

So please provide that information first and be prepared to answer more questions case occurring.

1 members found this post helpful.

It is photobooth software.

It is open source. Every feature was contracted from the open source community.
I don't know in what language it has been written.
The writer is over 50 so maybe it is a little outdated, but I couldn't tell.
A link to what has been done...There is an ubuntu version on my Macbook now. It is almost finished, but there are still a few bugs.
If you can give me advice on how to show you more I'm happy to oblige. But the writer didn't think of it a good enough to share it yet. He was planning to.
Splitting the screen, the screen resolution, cutting the photostrips in two. Steadily selecting the right printer.
Things like that.
I am not an expert, so I am a bit in the dark here.

I am puzzled, as there is no photobooth app in the Ubuntu repository, only cheese (is that similar? I ask because cheese seems to be similar to photo_booth, which is a closed source app for Macs). If it's not in an official repository, how did you get it? Is it possible to contact the writer to know more and possibly get the source? Anyhow if we can't get the source from the writer it will be impossible to complete or enhance that software.

PS I don't know how old you are, but being over 50 doesn't prevent to provide up to date software, as does Mike Cornelison aka Kornelix, who is certainly older than that but created and actively maintains1] among other software the awesome fotoxx app.

Oh, and in case you wonder I'm 66

[1]version 15.03 was released today.

That is because the writer wrote it himself. It isn't online yet. As I said. He did not share it, because he's not totally satisfied.

Then we can't help you. No one can modify something of which one has no knowledge.

Even if you have a compiled version of that software (that's what I assume from your second post) this can't help for two reasons:

• Reverse engineering a software is way too much hassle, especially when we don't even know really what this software does, and thus can't evaluate if this effort is worthwhile.
• If the writer doesn't want to share his work it's probably illegal, and certainly unfair.

To make a long story short, if you can't convince the author to publicize his work, you are out of luck, period. At least that's my opinion.

PS I can very well understand that one doesn't want to share something unfinished. But if not already done and as you obviously have a mean to contact the author, instead you could try suggesting that person to get help to finish it, and even help him hiring people eager to contribute if he agrees.

There's way more to it than this. But it's quite hard to explain in a forum like this. The author advised me to find other people to finish his work so here I am. I'm on the other hand not into the way of how the linux community works. I'm happy to share the software, I just don't know how. It's on my computer.
As I said. I'm in the dark here. Maybe there is a kind of chat where I can answer questions more directly.

Then the first step would be to put the software on a public server, alongside a file stating the license chosen by the initial author, so that some people can have a look and give you further advice. Do you now how to do that, or can the initial author help doing that?

without seeing and reading the code
no one can even think about being able to do anything

as above
post the code

Git is great
https://github.com/
BUT
YOU MUST have 100% legal license to be able to do that

Thank you. I will put it online asap. And give you the link.