Sandbox

The evolution of software solutions present us some problems regarding the preservation of the original software code. To keep it simple (has I point to several reference links that deal with the problem), Joomla.org and OSM should be involved at software preservation related with Joomla!

Main goals
- preserve the Joomla knowledge
- facilitate access to software code
- allow future access to the code and debug for training purpose
- preserve different programming styles and techniques
- praise software creators and programmers
- helping on orphan works searches
- contribute to software history

1- That preservation should done using a free open-access repository available from the internet.
2- The repository should contain:
  2.1 - Every Joomla software release
  2.2 - Extensions and 3rd party software code released under specific copyright licences (open licences such GPL, some CC and others to be determined)
  2.3 - Donations: Software code from users (mainly older versions even from copyrighted materials)

3- That repository should give credit to original coders and explicit the licence the code was released under.

Note: The repository spirit and principles should be similar to the Software Preservation Manifesto http://wiki.cs.uiuc.edu/Museum/Manifesto


Open discussion:
Don't present problems (has they are already discussed at this forum such as licences, servers space, time), present a solution. It could be a limited and simple repository, it would be better than nothing. JoomlaCode could be an easy way out!


Reference:
Discussions in Joomla forum

- Can Joomla! extensions be released under non-GPL compatible licenses?
http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,163492.0.html

- Download links are dead
http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,165849.0.html

Others
Software Preservation Manifesto
http://wiki.cs.uiuc.edu/Museum/Manifesto

Software created by those early pioneers must be preserved, not only to enable historians to write about and understand this period of great progress, but to create part of the literature that will teach programmers and software developers, designers, and architects of the future how to create masterful software.

- Computer History Museum  - http://www.computerhistory.org/

- Software Preservation at the Computer History Museum
Interview with Sellam Ismail, Curator of Software  - http://www.softwaretechnews.com/stn8-3/ismail.html


Additional info: Orphan works
- Orphan works - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphaned_works

- Orphan Works
http://www.publicknowledge.org/issues/ow

Don't think we're going to spend any resources on this. Second, I don't think Joomlacode is a good location for this. Joomlacode is for active developing, not act as a memoriam for software.

Tonie wrote:Don't think we're going to spend any resources on this. Second, I don't think Joomlacode is a good location for this. Joomlacode is for active developing, not act as a memoriam for software.

Fair enough but I just stress the importance to safe keep the code files and turn them public available in one repository for future users.

So if anyone would be interested in develop this idea I will glad to hear.
I don't have a server space and don't know the best presentation mode for this repository, but will think about it.

So, share your thoughts, send me a PM if you want to help or need an helping hand on this!

At least just read some of the links I've posted above and see why "history matters too"!

Old Joomla versions are still available on Joomlacode, just click the Joomla! 1.0 software package. Soon we will create a seperate package for 'legacy' and 'stable' for past and future stable versions.