Quote from wenzi:
Hmmm... I use tick data with Ninja Trader. Works fine.
Quote from greaterreturn:
NOTE: After further legal advice, the license has been custom written to allow modifying of the source code but it disallows copying for any reason except on your own computers. So it differs from open source or free software licenses.
It has become our decision that the goal is to give users the source code for developing strategies. And for developers to create add-ins or contributions. But we're not interested, at this time in allowing the software to get reused in other open source or commercial products.
Furthermore, the license promotes individuals free use of the software. Businesses may use the software only for 30 days if they have more than 1 employee or more than 2 owners or members.
The pricing is FREE. That's not a problem.
This license has been dubbed the TickZOOM GPL.
Folks, that's how it is. The license and terms may change over time but they'll always center on users having access to source but disallow "derivative" works as they're known in copyright law and differentiate between individual and business use.
Sincerely,
Wayne
3. Derived Works
The license must allow modifications and derived works, and must allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the license of the original software.
Quote from wenzi:
Well, this is a deal breaker for me. this sounds more like a ninja trader license than an open source license.
You have gone from an open source project to a commercial project in a remarkably short amount of time.
We verified with the FSF and GNU that they only disallow using GNU, their preample to the GPL and the usage instructions. They welcome borrowing any other parts of the terms and we did borrows some of it.This should not be called/dubbed/misnamed GPL in any way.
One of the basic tenets of open software is the ability to make derivative works, which you have just removed. From http://opensource.org/docs/osd
That is correct. This is not "open source" or "free software".
Instead this is a "full source" project which means you get the source and you can modify it to suit your purposes or contribute in any way just like open source.
It only disallows distributing it or creating another product.
Your license basically allows YOU the right to close the source at any time. Since no one else can make derivative works, there cannot be a fork.
That's odd. How can it become "closed" source once the users have the source?
If you elaborate or clarify what you mean, maybe something can be added to the license to protect from what you're afraid of short of allows derivative works.
The TickZOOM license protects your "right" to tinker with it and support it or hire someone to do so if something happens to TickZOOM. That's the major purpose of open source.
Unfortunately, in this industry, forcing open source on derivative works like GPL does won't solve the issues.
That is very considerate of you.
Sincerely,
Wayne
Quote from frostengine:
I have been developing automated trading systems for several years now. All have been custom platforms due to the shortcomings of the commercially available solutions you mentioned.
However, I recently began using NinjaTrader more to allow me to focus on my strategies as it seems even years later I spend more time tweaking my trading platform code than actually working on strategies.
So, when I saw this thread I have been following it very intently as it appears to offer a way for me to be able to contribute my platform development experience but not have to be completely engulfed in the work like I am with my own platforms. Hence, leaving me time to actually work on my strategies.
But after reading your proposed license I have to agree with the poster above me, this is a deal breaker. Many times throughout this thread I have seen you take a tone which shows that you very much intend to commercialize this as soon as you can. Which there is nothing wrong with that, heck everyone is out to make a buck. No reason for you not to... but at the same time with this proposed license no way I would contribute code to this and I am sure others would agree..
This license makes it too easy for you to say in 6 months when the platform is very stable and many developers have contributed to making TickZoom great for you to simply commercialize the whole thing.... Which would then lock everyone out.
Yea true the source code is free, so we could still get access to it.. no problem... but if you lock it out, we would be unable to fork it and continue developing as we are not allowed to distribute derivative works.. therefore all the time and effort we developers put into this will be for naught if we can't guarantee the project can survive and fork no matter what you decide to do with it in the future...
I am looking for a long term solution, not something that we can be locked out of at any time...
Quote from 2fast:
Obviously full source for free is better than closed source to pay for...
But has Linux become successfull because it's "full" source? If you want serious coding-support it has to be open source. I guess not many people will contribute code for a project where one person can dictate the future.
Create a licence that excludes only commercial use in any way. You have to decide: broad support for open source or essentially "your own" software.
Kind regards,
2fast
P.S. I whish you the maximum success for this project, but therefore it has to be open.