Yesterday, the Winamp source code, build tools, and associated libraries for the Windows app were published on GitHub, allowing anyone to provide bug fixes and new features to the iconic media player.
However, its license prohibits the distribution of modified software created through the release of this source code.
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yes, that license is unfortunate… i am not a license expert, but “private use only” modifications is sad to me. i mean, the difference with the GPL is just that contribs need to be upstreamed, right? that seems like a better balance, if so?
the GPL does not require upstreaming. it would allow for anyone to redistribute Winamp with whatever modifications they like, provided they publish their source code under the GPL. the license Winamp is using is not even an open-source license since it explicitly forbids public redistribution. dumb move, they should have just used MIT or GPL and retained rights to the logo or something
thank you, good post. I was going to make a sassy comment about Winamp being “source-available” (derogatory) but it’s helpful to have you explain this instead, appreciate it. (I am a software dev, but I struggle with licenses etc.)
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Just make a repo containing only changes, no original source, with instructions anyone can use to create their own version with community changes applied?
This is not open source. In open source people contribute to the project and in return the code belongs to anyone who likes to take it and work on it. Here they are asking for contribution while fully owning the code. It’s basically free labor
asks for community help
yeah the time to do this was like 15 years ago. I think most people with the knowledge to help have probably moved on to other players.
I think there’d still be enough people nostalgic about it to make a LinAmp out of the code, but only if it was under a real open source license.
What’s a good alternative? I used to love playing around with winamp lol
Even to this day I still use Foobar2000. Even with Linux through WINE.
No, it’s not open source, but it’s trim and does the job better than other players.
Yeah same here, since forever. Other players are a lot more flashy and appealing to the eye but I haven’t found any that make manual library management etc. as easy as foobar2000 does, and Columns UI makes it look modern enough for me. Only on Windows though, the macOS and Android ports are pretty rough…
🦙
Winamp is a media player for Microsoft Windows originally developed by Justin Frankel and Dmitry Boldyrev by their company Nullsoft, which they later sold to AOL in 1999 for $80 million
What use did AOL get out of a free desktop media player that was worth 80 million 1999 dollars?
Moreover, with Nullsoft, AOL is getting entrenched in the music download space in terms of adopting a technology. Although the MP3 (MPEG 1, Audio Layer 3) format is controversial among mainstream record companies because of its use by music pirates, its ease of use has made it a de facto standard for music downloads by early adopters. According to Nullsoft, 1.2 million of its Winamp MP3 players are downloaded monthly.
San Francisco-based Spinner.com offers more than 100 different music channels online via streaming technology. It also offers downloads of some songs via the MP3 format. The company will remain in its new San Francisco location, AOL said.
(Dot com bubble)
Fuck you, pay me (in free licence or money)
I’m so happy
Why this when WACUP exists already?
E: Just discovered WACUP is only partially open source? Damb that sucks. Hope this release could help WACUP but seems unlikely. Maybe it would help them understand the core they’e working with better?
Also the people who used DirectX for a media player…
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I use Strawberry on Linux but it’s not similar at all sadly
