Nxt source code

[Come-from-Beyond]

As u may know the most recent plan was to open source code on the 3rd of January if stakeholders decide so. I prefer the sources published on that date in any case, but then we should expect to see a lot of Nxt clones.

I want u to think about such a plan:
1. Only base version of Nxt code is published on the 3rd of Jan (without Colored Coins, Messaging, etc.)
2. Extended version published when Nxt becomes more popular (in 3-6 months)

Comments?

[Graviton]

As u may know the most recent plan was to open source code on the 3rd of January if stakeholders decide so. I prefer the sources published on that date in any case, but then we should expect to see a lot of Nxt clones.

I want u to think about such a plan:
1. Only base version of Nxt code is published on the 3rd of Jan (without Colored Coins, Messaging, etc.)
2. Extended version published when Nxt becomes more popular (in 3-6 months)

Comments?

Sounds like a plan to me. However I don't consider this decision critical - due to the good headstart publishing full code would not likely be a disaster. OTOH not publishing any code (other than parts) could be possible also. Your suggestion is a good middle way, a shareholder vote would be needed in the month ahead unless clear consensus is achieved before that.

[inkadnb]

Yeah I'm a bit on the fence.

I suggest the source stays somewhat closed until we reach some stability. Until then, release the source to trusted members under an NDA. I'm all for signing an NDA.

Couple reasons:

• Releasing the source tends to gain more trust from users. Wider adoption leaves less room for instability.
• If you release buggy source, it'll only give copycats more incentive to copy.

[LiQio]

@Come-from-Beyond: I think a two (or more step) publishing could be a reasonable thing

@Graviton: I consider it mission-critical, because if everything will be disclosed, copying and releasing might take only a few days, and if someone with adequate means does it, the head start could be lost. With adequate means I mean mainly professional marketing, good access to publicity, etc. NXT seems great and has obviously potential, but is none the less still in its infancy. And I don't want next to be known only by a group of early adopters and COPYNxt to be the one mentioned in newspapers 

@inkadnb: NDA is good but hard to handle if breached. But totally agree: opening code is important and creates confidence...

Therefore I would favor a multi-step code release, bit by bit over 6 maybe even more months

[bitme]

Agreed, I think releasing code on request is fine, but we need this thing stable before releasing all source code.

[Jean-Luc]

I also agree with releasing the code in steps, only the base part being released on Jan 3rd. We, the stakeholders, can vote later about when to release the other parts, indeed depending on how fast the Nxt public acceptance and popularity grows.

NDA's are not very meaningful when people prefer to stay anonymous. One compromise would be to release (more parts of) the code to those of the original investors who have a stake higher than say 5-10M Nxt. Somebody with a significant stake in the success of Nxt is unlikely to try to start a clone or leak the code, thus destroying the value of his own investment. But I don't know how many of those are java developers and have the time or desire to get actively involved.

[Alias]

I would like to offer a different perspective.

I think the core/kernel of the code should remain closed source for as long as possible - while the Colored Coins, Decentralized Exchange, Distributed Market Place and Messaging etc. components could be open-sourced immediately! The specs of the inputs and outputs (and transfer characteristics) of the core/kernel could be well documented/specified such that the component software development can accelerate unhindered and interact with the "black-box" kernel.

I believe this would further cement NxT's first mover advantage. Once we cross a market capitalization of $50 - $100 Million dollars then the core/kernel can be released with an open-source license.

[Jean-Luc]

I think the core/kernel of the code should remain closed source for as long as possible - while the Colored Coins, Decentralized Exchange, Distributed Market Place and Messaging etc. components could be open-sourced immediately!

Hm, no, Colored Coins and Decentralized Exchange is one of the key features of Nxt that makes it different. Those should be kept closed source as long as possible, to stop the copycats.

The specs of the inputs and outputs (and transfer characteristics) of the core/kernel could be well documented/specified such that the component software development can accelerate unhindered and interact with the "black-box" kernel.

Unfortunately I don't think the base Nxt API (what you call inputs and outputs) is anywhere near stable at present. Didn't CfB just recently replace the peer networking part? It doesn't make sense to develop open source components on top of a closed source base which keeps changing. But if the kernel is open sourced, everybody could contribute by fixing bugs in it. It is very important to make the base stable and bug-free, which would only be helped by having more developers. On the other hand, features that are not yet released, such as the colored coins, are better handled by a single developer (BCNext) who has a vision about how those should work and should bring them to completion. No hurry to make those open source.

[NxtChoice]

A step by step mean is preferable. As we know, Scrypt algorithm was not proposed by Litecoin, but Litecoin copied it and get a success. So we can't open source all of it at once. How to open it step by step is also important. I prefer to open source of the core part in the first place, which is the base for the success of Nxt. If it is accepted by the community and get popularity, we have user base. After the core open source and get stable, we can add color coins support and have a test with such a wide user base. But one thing should bear in mind, we'd better release color coin support before any other implementation to get the first, so we will get more popular in the field of decentralized exchange. So we should open source of the core part ASAP not later than Jan 3rd. After the color coin release and then open source, we can release messaging and open source it, which seems no competition right now.

[opticalc]

A step by step mean is preferable. As we know, Scrypt algorithm was not proposed by Litecoin, but Litecoin copied it and get a success. So we can't open source all of it at once. How to open it step by step is also important. I prefer to open source of the core part in the first place, which is the base for the success of Nxt. If it is accepted by the community and get popularity, we have user base. After the core open source and get stable, we can add color coins support and have a test with such a wide user base. But one thing should bear in mind, we'd better release color coin support before any other implementation to get the first, so we will get more popular in the field of decentralized exchange. So we should open source of the core part ASAP not later than Jan 3rd. After the color coin release and then open source, we can release messaging and open source it, which seems no competition right now.

This is a tough decision.  On 1 hand, were getting hammered in many areas due to the source being closed.  On the other hand security of Nxt as a usable crypto currency should be paramount.

I say continue to watch the market cap.  I would venture to say its looking very positive so far, and that IMO given the positive 1st day on coinmarketcap, there is much more loose than gain by releasing the source prematurely.  If the market cap continues favorable, Id say not to release it too soon.

[NextHead]

I would like to offer a different perspective.

I think the core/kernel of the code should remain closed source for as long as possible - while the Colored Coins, Decentralized Exchange, Distributed Market Place and Messaging etc. components could be open-sourced immediately! The specs of the inputs and outputs (and transfer characteristics) of the core/kernel could be well documented/specified such that the component software development can accelerate unhindered and interact with the "black-box" kernel.

I believe this would further cement NxT's first mover advantage. Once we cross a market capitalization of $50 - $100 Million dollars then the core/kernel can be released with an open-source license.

+1000

[Graviton]

LiQio you are right, after a little thought full release is not worth it. The rest of plans look all good to me, difficult to know which will produce the optimal outcome.

I believe this would further cement NxT's first mover advantage. Once we cross a market capitalization of $50 - $100 Million dollars then the core/kernel can be released with an open-source license.

Alias's suggestion is good also, but $100M market cap will likely arrive too soon (two months max I say, maybe just 3 weeks). Market cap has little relevance, these things tend to explode and development can not keep up with the popular momentum.

[NEXT!]

source code must be released ... in Jan, otherwise will be consideret as scam.. the crypto community is all about open source ...

actually Im more then sure that many people are waiting for the source cde to be released , to start :

- istall the  wallet
- to trade
- to make business with nxt... ( for example I would love to start a market place like bitmit... but with nxt .. but how can I start it if the I have no idea if the soft is safe)

PS: upon releasing the soft , nxt businesses will start popping up, IMO!
and you can forget about exchanges like BTCe to trade nxt if there will be no source code !

[NEXT!]

also much more devs will join after the source code will be reeased...


if the source code wont be released that means this will be a greed coin which wont succeed..

[Alias]

also much more devs will join after the source code will be reeased...


if the source code wont be released that means this will be a greed coin which wont succeed..

Despite my earlier idea (which I still think holds merit and almost kinda sorta mimics the Linux kernel Development model - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel#Development_model), the most logical thing is to release all the source code as soon as possible. The network effect surrounding NxT already seems to be quite strong and is growing by the hour.

With the recent revelations in China warning their own banks to be cautious wrt cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin in particular), it is apparent that the world needs the "Colored Coins" feature asap such that anyone will be free to trade coins that are "colored" to represent the items which "back" them (ideally in conjunction with the decentralized exchange!).

Releasing either the source code in it's entirety now or even just the Colored Coins component will accelerate interest and adoption of NxT in ways you cannot even imagine.

Edit: Just in case anyone hasn't been following Mastercoin's development, there is a lot that one can learn about how to fully take advantage of cryptocurencies (or as you may find yourself conceptualizing them as "distributed asset ledgers"). Check them out here - www.mastercoin.org