For Cardinal, plugins must be open-source.
For VCV Rack, plugins can be free but closed source (e.g. Nysthi), so there are 3 categories:
- commercial
- free
- open-source
I wasn’t talking about Cardinal, I was talking about the VCV Library. Applying the inverse logic of “not allowed to sell opensource modules”.
Opensource (the Free kind) normally does not exclude Commercial, except in the VCV Library.
This is really a misconception pervasive throughout many communities. The “Free” in FOSS includes the freedom to sell the software (as long as the source code is available).
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Maybe Andrew could bring some light into this. From a practical point of view, if I want to sell my plugin, I would not put it open-source because IMO VCV plugins are quite easy to compile.
Simply paying for the convenience of prebuilt binaries and automated updates can be worthwhile for many.
Yes it’s easy to compile for developers or those with a hard head and willing to dive in, but it’s not always trivial and for many users too much to ask.
Paying a small fee for this convenience could be totally worth it. Why not? It certainly goes against FOSS licenses and principles to prevent this.
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Hello Marc
I’ve already a port of the CloudSeed VST
but it was a cpu hog, so is in my unfinished tasks folder… 
(with an insane UI to create)
good luck with the optimizations !
I guess that there is some well thought out logic behind it but that seems like a really odd stance for VCV to take. I would be glad to pay for ‘premuim’ modules even if they are available to download and compile myself, and I’m sure a lot of people would be interested. Seems like a missed opportunity which only harms open source devs - instead of relying on users to remember to take the time to donate, they can choose to pay for it through the library and have the modules in sync with the library. Seems like a win-win for everyone involved.
I hope this can be changed one day.
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Thanks! After a first round of easy optimizations, here’s where it’s at now CPU-wise (with the default CloudSeed preset):
But it will need some more work, SIMD I think is one thing I will try (I hope I can get this done). The interface will be a beast as you say(!), but as someone said in the other thread, no need to put CV control on everything, so that will help. Still not sure where this will lead, but still exploring!
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I’ve not left, just having a break since I’ve been getting very burned out from my day job lately. Coding all day makes me want to work on other non-coding stuff in the evenings, but it’s not like I won’t come back to making and updating modules.
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My guess is VCV wants to avoid the perceived potential negative publicity that might result from selling open source software in the library.
“Why are you selling stuff that I can get for free elsewhere??? What a rip off!” etc…
I agree though that if it was marketed and communicated in the right way, it could be a good alternative to the ‘donations’ system that is really not very effective.
Having said that, someone made a generous donation to MindMeld yesterday (possibly after seeing my post here haha) - so if you’re reading this Nick - thank you! 
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I raised the donation/tipjar links on the forum the other day and it was clear it needs to be better advertised. Maybe VCV could run a biannual ‘tip the devs’ drive?
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I think there is a workaround, given that slimechildaudio managed to publish the commercial Substation plugin, and then later publish an open source version without any of the branding.
But based on Coriander Pines’ experience, Andrew’s policy may be wise. Read the 2nd edit in this initial post.
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That is a slightly different take on the matter. The plugin was initially proprietary and commercial, and people that bought it may had the expectation that it would remain so. Super shitty to get upset about this though, specially considering the opensource version was a step back vs the proprietary one.
I still dont think that is worth the gate keeping though. Seems to me this is a matter of education. People that dont know any better and expect opensource = free and fully supported to everyone shouldnt dictate how the developers do things. Being opensource doesnt make it easy to build or maintain. And doesnt give anyone the right to make demands over the opensource project.
Can be matter of communication too. Something can be open but still have commercial binaries. What you pay for is the convenience. It is alike a “service fee”. If this is clear for users, I think they will understand.
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But the plan was announced up front - it was never a secret that the code base would be made open source.
I agree, I would like to think that proper communication could help. But human behavior is what it is, unfortunately. Not everyone wants to be educated. 
Ah, apologies, I was not aware this was the case. Because of the brutal response to the open-sourcing I assumed it was. Which makes everything even worse, wow…
“I payed for it, so you must pay for it too” is a terrible, terrible attitude to have. We can just be happy for others. 
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If this were to ever happen, it would be good to get a community consensus behind it - so when the inevitable “Why are you selling free stuff!?!” comments appear, the community could help fend those off and educate rather than VCV having to deal with/defend them on their own.
The SlimeChild thing was really sad, a very accomplished bundle that only cost $15 and people moaning about a free version that didn’t even have the graphics etc.
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I have to take a look to cardinal, but I will miss loot of modules there, I use close source modules primarily, vutl for instance, @falkTX , I’m not sure, but reading the plugging guidelines , you could seel it outside the library (some developers do this) and release the source code, it is grey to me , so asking to @Vortico maybe it could be posible, that could be incredible have a patchbay among others Carla fine jack features in the VCV rack
I have sort of the mirror experience. After I stopped making free VCV modules I started doing my day job better. I think a lot of it is the limited brain power to ponder stuff at odd times, now that I’m not pondering VCV issues I can ponder work issues in the middle of the night. Turned out it was something I really relied on.
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A binary is not the same as source-code. Assuming that users are too dumb to understand this is an insult to the users.
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And, could I mention something that probably 99% of us agree on? It would be nice if all VCV policies were written down.
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