Board Thread:General Mod Discussion/@comment-27506967-20170521225234/@comment-25330335-20170522022505

For those of you who are not so familiar with software development, there are two kinds of software. Closed source software (usually developed by companies, although there are exceptions (this mod, for example)), and open source software (usually developed by communities, because the code is freely available (Mevans open-sourced the Joetater)).

Minecraft is closed-source, and that is one of the reasons that I think it's dying. Because nobody is forking it and taking it in different directions. That's how a lot of open-source software continues. Because people copy it and take the project in different directions.

To Mevans: Open source is a way to mitigate some of these issues that you have, as a result of being closed-source. I understand that you are aware of open-source, and you may not think it is a good option for this project. I'm just throwing it out there as a viable option.

Open-source would give you good leverage for suggestion situations; If people ask you to add something, you can say "Add it yourself!". It also allows for more people to work on the project and maybe accomplish more of your goals. It does mean that people can fork your code, depending on your choice of license. You can still control contributions.

I understand if you don't like me saying this stuff. Open source development is a model that I believe very strongly in, because I believe that we can use it as a way to build better software together.

I would also like to take this moment to point out how much respect I have for you Mevans, for what you've done building this community, and for being thoughtful and human. Honestly, I wouldn't be where I am today without this mod. I appreciate it.