Is something Open Source Hardware if it uses a propietary part.
Re: Is something Open Source Hardware if it uses a propietary part.
Boz wrote:Or programming that isn't open source, but is made available as a module, such as a tcpip stack. Would something be open source hardware, if the only place to get an expensive proprietary connector was the producer?
Re: Is something Open Source Hardware if it uses a propietary part.
adafruit wrote:Boz wrote:Or programming that isn't open source, but is made available as a module, such as a tcpip stack. Would something be open source hardware, if the only place to get an expensive proprietary connector was the producer?
boz,
it really depends on who is judging the "purity" of the project. as an example, some have claimed that since the arduino uses an AVR chip isn't not "pure" but the chip could be replaced if let's say AVR went away. some could claim that if you use windows to write code, even if it's a text file, you're not oss enough.
if you're asking if someone purposely makes a product, claims it's oshw, then is the only source for a proprietary connector, we think that's not in the spirit of oshw.
but this is just our opinion, we're not hardcore purists on everything, but we also think we have a pretty good idea what's in the spirit of oshw...
can you provide a specific example? that's easier than hypothetical / edge cases which aren't common.
thanks,
adafruit
Re: Is something Open Source Hardware if it uses a propietary part.
Boz wrote:And that is why I asked, because I was thinking, because it was a thought puzzle, so to speak, about where would the line be drawn in Open Source Hardware. I thought this was the only place I could find someone to discuss it with to get other perspectives…So I guess I just wanted to hear other opinions and talk to others about their thoughts on where the line is drawn. Sorry if this is a bit wide field of the topics here, but I knew no better place that had the center of the Open Hardware movement than here to have this discussion.
Boz wrote:I guess the examples that started me down the track were the Microchip stack debate a few weeks ago and I started to wonder if the Open Source Hardware movement had reached a tipping point, as previous open movements had.
Boz wrote:I think the Open Source Hardware Definition went a long way to stem that, but the one weakness in it, I personally think and what started me on this bent, is this sentence: "Ideally, open source hardware uses readily-available components and materials, standard processes, open infrastructure, unrestricted content, and open-source design tools to maximize the ability of individuals to make and use hardware."
Boz wrote:But I am starting to see people closing some of those doors as ways of skirting around and still being referred to as open source. I have seen people "release" "open sources" in mac only specific program formats ( not just because they used it to design ) or with the files that have read only file locks that need administrative permissions to unlock that can not be provided and even people who "release" a picture of a schematic as open source without boards.
Re: Is something Open Source Hardware if it uses a propietary part.
Re: Is something Open Source Hardware if it uses a propietary part.
Boz wrote:...but what if a company like them (not them) came along with a connector like theirs, which is kind of the heart of the functionality and decided to protect the connector in the same way as the Arduino team protects(rightfully) their name, but in this concept you can have everything but this connector and we only sell this connector in retail cost and quantities or worse for a ridiculous price.
Would that still be Open Source Hardware?
Re: Is something Open Source Hardware if it uses a propietary part.
adafruit wrote:Boz wrote:...but what if a company like them (not them) came along with a connector like theirs, which is kind of the heart of the functionality and decided to protect the connector in the same way as the Arduino team protects(rightfully) their name, but in this concept you can have everything but this connector and we only sell this connector in retail cost and quantities or worse for a ridiculous price.
Would that still be Open Source Hardware?
don't get hung up on the what-ifs, we see this a lot. the best thing is to make and ship open-source hardware.
thanks,
adafruit
Re: Is something Open Source Hardware if it uses a propietary part.
Boz wrote:but in this concept you can have everything but this connector and we only sell this connector in retail cost and quantities or worse for a ridiculous price.
Re: Is something Open Source Hardware if it uses a propietary part.
I have seen people "release" "open sources" in mac only specific program formats
( not just because they used it to design )