Keep it clean
If you believe that a wish duplicates another one or is not meant for the category, use Options button above to report a duplicate or spam.
Add your wish
If there is an item you wish to have on GOG.com and it’s not yet on the wishlist, please add your wish
Include source codes of open source games
Added by
Protoss There should be source codes of open source games included, prominent examples are Warzone 2100 or Quake 3 Arena if they come to GOG. Would be nice to have it as a downloadable extra for community fixes and mods.
OSMAIBHU2 at least a link to the repo would be cool and also display a icon or something to tell wich games are open source!
minigogger At least adding a link to the official website of open source games would be nice.
(Have a look at Tales of Maj'Eyal for example)
IdkSomeNublette The version of Quake 2 on GOG wasn't released under GPL. A modern build wouldn't aggravate "Wine bug" #25362.
M_Haastrup This is a actually a requirement for games distributed under the GPL
torp Open source software tends to have a central source code repository that is constantly updated; I don't think GoG needs to include a copy of the source *and then keep it in sync*. For GPL games (are there any here?) a link to the official repo would be enough.
Note that Quake as distributed here is not a GPL game. ID Software (or Bethesda now) are the copyright holders, they own the original source code and aren't bound by the GPL. Only whoever builds a binary based on the GPL released code is.
gonzalodelgado I'm working on a GOG mix that'd be the next best thing :-)
www.gog.com/mix/games_with_official_source_code_release
ssokolow I don't know about a downloadable extra, but it'd be nice to have a "source code available" note on such games that's hyperlinked to wherever the original source release was made. (to avoid GOG having to take responsibility for keeping track as forks wax and wane.)
shaddim I think, the important aspect is, that GOG should try to obtain source code of classic games where possible to prevent the need of this wish: www.gog.com/wishlist/site/travel_back_in_time_to_acquire_lost_source_codes
Vote for this here! www.gog.com/wishlist/site/obtain_source_code_for_games_where_possible
shaddim similar: www.gog.com/wishlist/site/obtain_source_code_for_games_where_possible
Andrew_C If someone requests the source of a game that uses a GPL'ed engine, like Quake 3 Arena, then under the GPL you are required to make it available to them. This can take the form of hosting a mirror of that source, or just providing a link to the original site ( ftp://ftp.idsoftware.com/idstuff/source/ ) . But you are obliged to do so, or you are in violation of the GPL
imadoofus123 Just because the source was released doesn't mean anyone selling it has to host the source code. That only applies if the sold software is derived from the opened source, when in fact it is usually based off a different version released under a different license. There are often multiple open source versions with more advanced features than the original code (e.g. ioquake3 and xreal) so hosting the original code isn't much use.
maximus309 If a game has source code released under an OSI approved license, technically it would have to be made available to anyone (not just people who bought the game). It would be nice if GOG added links to the project pages though.
srkelley5 Instead of hosting the source, how about adding a link to the current version of the source code or something like a README file that points to where it is. Of course, please hand readme's like you do the manuals, make them unique so that we don't have to rename them when downloading multiple files to the same location.
milanium If you sell copylefted Open Source games you _have_ to also upload the source code.
Luckless Personally, I'm actually against them hosting the source. Providing some indication that it IS open source, and that there are other projects they can go and get the latest version from is one thing, but hosting source? Which version of source are they going to host? Far better to direct users to dev communities than just offering basically useless source code. Source projects that people care about are basically living things. They change and grow, often daily. They fork, merge, and parts die off. Hosting source consumes space and bandwidth for zero gain.
maximus309 Regardless of whether or not the majority of existing users find this useful, it wouldn't cost GOG anything to add this as an extra, and they don't have to maintain it (helping people compile the source for example). It would however help set GOG apart and would make for some good PR; which in turn could attract new users. Seems like a win-win to me ... and it might even get some people interested in programming.
RafaelLVX Heheh, "completely unnecessary like your forum posts"... did you take the time to know the creator of this wish more closely before commenting?
Warmdrink It's completely unnecessary (a lot like your forum posts!). For one, the source code to Quake 3 is now obsolete; replaced by ioquake3. Same goes for pretty much all the open source id games. As for the source code to other games, they're already easy to find and many will already have been turned into source ports. This is just unnecessary disk space. The only time GOG should actually include the source code is if the publisher actually requests it, like other bonuses.
sanscript Most gamers don't need it, as it would add to the download size and might confuse the users. But i agreed it would be logical to include it as a bonus.
Skunk Kuroko: "While it would be fun extra for person like me, I don't think it would be that useful for most of us Gog.com users who aren't into programming." Well, that goes without saying, doesn't it? People who have no use for the source code don't have to download it. They can safely ignore it, while those who do have an interest have a quick and convenient way to not only find out if a game is open source at a glance, but download the source from the same place they download their game and other extras. Several games already come with editing tools. Throwing in the source code just seems like the next logical step.
DonnBarredora This is a great idea.
Kuroko While it would be fun extra for person like me, I don't think it would be that useful for most of us Gog.com users who aren't into programming.
22 comments about this wish