On "Original" Code

[HaoZeke]

Hi, I submitted this complaint on originality through the XDA suggestions, however I'd like some community clarification too.

Hi, I recently started a hobby project here on XDA, which quite unabashedly forked a bunch of repos and picked a lot of commits, then worked to get it working for my device (Z5).

In all this I neither rebased nor changed the ownership.

While I did this I noticed a *LOT* of copied work which was simply rebranded and *NOT* forked.

I further was informed by the people I had forked that I was not supposed to fork their work although said work appeared to be a fork from another repo (though it wasn't actually forked, the file names matched)

I'm confused. Honestly.

Of features, it is known that there are very few original feature developers and they're great people.

The same features make their way across multiple roms, each with their own *cosmetic* changes (or sometimes by just rewriting the same thing). Each Rom then has an aggressive user and dev base to complain about people "copying" and not letting them get credit.

Is it really such a big deal?

I feel like it's probably less effort now to simply go the same route as many roms.
Upload a token "new" source on github by not forking repos but pushing local clones.

Is this what XDA endorses as original work?

If something is forked, isn't that a sign of respect? I feel appalled that, what honestly takes longer, after-all fixes are usually local and it's simple enough to do a hub create and push.

I took the effort of going, forking, cloning and re-doing my changes simply out of respect only to be told that my work is not original as I have "superficially" forked.

I know developers can't be everywhere. They can't develop for everyone.

This attitude of intolerance when the Roms are for DIFFERENT devices which they would NEVER support seems really sad.

Some developers are really excellent about this sort of stuff, I'd like to think that they're the ones who believe in their own work and don't see the need to attack others. (The CarbonRom devs are excellent, so are the SonyAosp and LineageOS guys)
The issues crop up from the other "original" roms. Basically patchwork quilts of commits, code and ideas *without* recognition for the REAL devs.

I'd also like to clarify that I have nothing against Rule 12

Rule 12 also allows for no selective sharing, and considering that for most commits you're not the original author I really don't get it.

It's not like I simply pulled a device tree and built it for my device; then removed all references and tried to make money off it.
I had to adapt it and there are commits you have not added yet from other repos too. They're donations not paywalls.

Please clarify the matter.
Additionally I only posted the rom here in the first place because I remember how bad it felt to be kept away from all the nicer new features just because no-one takes the time out to build for your device.

I can't see why a donation link is offensive. I ensured something which I did not originally develop or claim to develop available to users of another device... with credits to the original authors!

I just don't see where this is coming from.
A lot of work around is also from MapleAOSP as I see it.... along with DU, UBERROMS, Pure-Nexus, AOSP dev sources etc.

 

[husky69]

Personally speaking - I am not offended, because it takes wit and effort to integrate everything and get it working, and IMHO every dev in the world stands on giants' shoulders, taking advantage from the work of others, and all efforts deserve some kind of reward, be it fame, praise, recognition, ... - or money. The donors decide the way they show their appreciation...
That having said, I mostly decide to support devs by buying their Pro apps that unlock some extra features. But I also donate money at times.. Because i feel it's only fair - I can't do development, I learned a different profession that I'm well paid for. Why not share a little in appreciation for the devs' work that I take advantage off?

Just my 2¢