What % of code would you consider 'not stealing' if you want to break a GPL?
1 06 May 2018 15:18 by u/ActuallyAGoodThing
So I have written this application with my own frameworks a number of times. But I want to run modern DB hooks and other things so I am once again re-writing the application.
My method for this was to find a modern GPL app that has some of the same functionality. I am going through it and replacing all the code with my own, familiar constructs.
For me this is my preferred method because I learn much quicker by examples rather than instructions.
Anyway, at what point, even though the code is already unrecognizable and serves a different purpose than the initial code - would you feel comfortable breaking the GPL?
Say, notwithstanding simple formatting changes, that 15% of the code was the same. What do you think?
7 comments
0 u/Memorexem 06 May 2018 15:55
That's really a moral issue, I think.
You are taking somebody else's work, changing it to fit your needs, and branding it a new product. Do you actually consider it a new product, or is it the original but 'tweaked'?
It's, to me, kind of like reading somebody's book and saying 'Meh. The plot was ok, but I think I can do it better.' As long as you're only recycling bits and pieces...
It's a slippery slope, though. If 15% is the same, maybe include a commendation or something to the original program? 'Built on blah blah by blah blah' or something?
0 u/ActuallyAGoodThing [OP] 06 May 2018 18:26
Well it's not doing the same job as the original.
I suppose I can re-write 100% of the code and consider the donor project just an outline.
0 u/WatchListMe 06 May 2018 17:22
I think you’re a pile of shit who is stealing work.
0 u/ActuallyAGoodThing [OP] 06 May 2018 18:43
My moral flexibility might be from having a high intelligence. Or I could be a scumbag. I suspect I am in a better position than you to know.
0 u/WatchListMe 06 May 2018 20:14
Yea, I have heard a large portion of the worlds IT crowd are pedophiles. Especially the highest intelligence individuals. Not sure why that is.
0 u/ActuallyAGoodThing [OP] 10 May 2018 22:24
I decided to build the project from scratch without copying any code. I mocked up my app in their framework and then started from scratch with widgets from my own toolbox. I am 2 days in and probably 50% done.
Anyway not just because of your opinion but also because I didn't like their code layout. It was useful as an outline and especially for mysqli usage which I haven't used in a complex app before.
0 u/WatchListMe 10 May 2018 22:32
Congratulations. I believe building from the ground up is always better because of what you learn and the problems that arise make you better. Anyway I know you didn’t do it for me, I’m just some asshole online- but I’m still happy for you for not copying work.