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Assuming you are not the proprietor of OSQA: I apologize for implying that you acted distastefully. I was not aware of the existence of OSQA, which is what I fi

Assuming you are not the proprietor of OSQA: I apologize for implying that you acted distastefully. I was not aware of the existence of OSQA, which is what I find distasteful. Digging deeper, I can see that OSQA is based on the same tech as CNProg, which has been discussed on HN before. If I recall correctly, most people shared my displeasure with the clone. But now because OSQA is open sourced, people think it is OK? When people spend a lot of time and money to design something through blood, sweat, and tears, like I'm sure the StackOverflow team did, it is not cool for someone else to come by and just clone it blindly. This also applies to free and open source software. Derivative, inspired work is one thing. But this is a step away from copy-paste.

andrewljohnson 16y ago
In fact, it is cool, it is expected, it is flattering, and it is perfectly ethical. I'm guessing the StackOverflow team feels this way too. There is so much more to software than what your CSS layout is, and we should all look to our fellow designers and programmers and steal the best ideas and use them ourselves. That's how software evolves. From a legal standpoint, didn't we settle the whole look and feel issue way back when with Apple vs. MS?
- pavs 16y ago
  >In fact, is it cool, it is expected, it is flattering, and it is perfectly ethical. I'm guessing the StackOverflow team feels this way too. really? You think so? I am glad that there is an open source option, but I hate the fact that its all most 95% copy paste job of SO. There is a difference between design inspired from something and blatant copying something.
  - dirtyaura 16y ago
    A lot of open source software has started by blatantly copying the design or concepts of a commercial product, but then they have later diverged from the original source of inspiration to have a few original ideas of their own. A couple of examples: OpenOffice, RhythmBox, Freeciv.
- snprbob86 16y ago
  I said distasteful, I never said unethical or illegal.

andrewljohnson 16y ago

In fact, it is cool, it is expected, it is flattering, and it is perfectly ethical. I'm guessing the StackOverflow team feels this way too. There is so much more to software than what your CSS layout is, and we should all look to our fellow designers and programmers and steal the best ideas and use them ourselves. That's how software evolves. From a legal standpoint, didn't we settle the whole look and feel issue way back when with Apple vs. MS?

pavs 16y ago
>In fact, is it cool, it is expected, it is flattering, and it is perfectly ethical. I'm guessing the StackOverflow team feels this way too. really? You think so? I am glad that there is an open source option, but I hate the fact that its all most 95% copy paste job of SO. There is a difference between design inspired from something and blatant copying something.
- dirtyaura 16y ago
  A lot of open source software has started by blatantly copying the design or concepts of a commercial product, but then they have later diverged from the original source of inspiration to have a few original ideas of their own. A couple of examples: OpenOffice, RhythmBox, Freeciv.
snprbob86 16y ago
I said distasteful, I never said unethical or illegal.