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>Open-source makes it hard for us to develop some features "in the clear" (like our recent video launch) without leaking our plans too far in advance. As Reddit

>Open-source makes it hard for us to develop some features "in the clear" (like our recent video launch) without leaking our plans too far in advance. As Reddit is now a larger player on the web, it is hard for us to be strategic in our planning when everyone can see what code we are committing. I'm curious what harm they are afraid of? Like, what happens if outsiders know what reddit is working on next?

notamy 9y ago
Perhaps something like > Start making feature > People hype it up > Feature gets scrapped > Angry mob
- derimagia 9y ago
  You can solve that by having feature branches and not promises repos to be up to date. I mean saying it trails even 6 months or more behind is a lot better than nothing.
  - spicyj 9y ago
    They say they did that and it turned out to be a pain.
    - msq 9y ago
      Developing every busy application with multiple branches is a pain. Sounds like a cheap excuse. As summarized on r/programming: > Translation: We needed you guys back then. We don't now.
throwaway2048 9y ago
They are afraid of not living up to a 9 digit valuation and being able to make VCs money, so they are scrambling for any edge they think they have. Its the same kind of move that was behind twitter killing off their API. Calling this "a commitment to do open source right" is insulting to their user's intelligence.
roastbeef 9y ago
perhaps a competitor could emerge and steal their thunder? you may say they don't exist now but that isn't necessarily true looking out into the future...