10 ms·

LibreSprite – fork of last open-source release of Aseprite pixel art editor

204 points by app4soft 8y ago

app4soft 8y ago
Details[0] [0] https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/issues/10#issuecomment-394151936 https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/issues/10#issueco...
- voltagex_ 8y ago
  Sorry, this doesn't really help people who have no idea what Aesprite is or why it's suddenly an issue https://www.aseprite.org/ https://www.aseprite.org/, looks like a really nice pixel art editor / sprite editor. The author needs to eat, therefore relicense (I think). It seems like this is the crux of the matter: https://dev.aseprite.org/2016/09/01/new-source-code-license/ https://dev.aseprite.org/2016/09/01/new-source-code-license/ and https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite/issues/1666 https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite/issues/1666 https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite#license https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite#license
  - speps 8y ago
    > The author needs to eat, therefore relicense (I think). In my opinion it's the author who should have been seeking a fork then. Getting the approval of all the contributors to do so, knowing that those people won't be able to help anymore. Also, that kind of thing is usually handled by a Pro version or advanced support for paid subscribers.
    - taneq 8y ago
      I took a brief look around the repo and it looks like the author is the sole contributor (at least the few files I looked at had plenty of commits but all by the author). A project being GPL'd doesn't necessarily mean the copyright isn't owned by one party.
      - speps 8y ago
        https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite/graphs/contributors https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite/graphs/contributors He's clearly the top contributor, but not the sole contributor. Sadly, it's why there's more and more projects adopting CLAs. Some that say that all the code you're contributing is owned by the project and not yourself. Allows for future relicensing in some cases.
        taneq 8y ago
        Huh, thanks for that - I don't really use github and didn't know you could pull up that graph. In that case it looks like most of the other contributors contributed after the CLA was added but there are still a few commits from before that point. Accordingly he should have sought permission from those people before changing the license.
        agateau 8y ago
        He did. I contributed a few minor fixes and got an email from David asking for permission to re-license.
        newnewpdro 8y ago
        > Sadly, it's why there's more and more projects adopting CLAs. Some that say that all the code you're contributing is owned by the project and not yourself. Allows for future relicensing in some cases. You're conflating CLA and CTA/CAA, the difference is explained here [1], and it matters. [1] https://opensource.stackexchange.com/questions/860/what-is-the-difference-between-a-cla-and-a-cta https://opensource.stackexchange.com/questions/860/what-is-t...
  - mosselman 8y ago
    This was my thought exactly. The author isn’t asking the world, the tool is just $15. I believe in open software too, but this is pretty niche and if I really needed it I’d rather pay than not have it at all.
  - deze333 8y ago
    Who's really got skin in the game? Perhaps the author who spent countless hours pushing the project along all those years, he took all the risks and uncertainties. Yes, all contributions did help but being a humble contributor I wouldn't ask for any kind of eternal obligation. Otherwise what kind of help is that? If one wants to give, they just give, full stop. Why not stick to free will? Notice the word free.
    - yetanother1980 8y ago
      If you feel this way you should never open source your work. Licences like the GPL as well as licences like BSD/MIT explicitly allow for forks like this.
    - s73v3r_ 8y ago
      Free doesn't pay the bills.
  - app4soft 8y ago
    > this doesn't really help people who have no idea what Aesprite is or why it's suddenly an issue People should read at least title of this news: "LibreSprite – fork of last open-source release of Aseprite pixel art editor". If they will open link then they could read "History" chapter in README.md[0] [0] https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/blob/master/README.md#history https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/blob/master/READM...
akavel 8y ago
Rationale, if you went to the comments first, same as me: https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/issues/1 https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/issues/1 "Since https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite went proprietary on Aug 26th, 2016 (aseprite/aseprite@5ecc356), this fork and corresponding GitHub organization were created to preserve the last GPLv2 version of the code. Our reasons for doing so are multiple and likely different for all fork initiators, but a strong belief in free software is definitely to name, and as the GPLv2 license allows us to, we want to safeguard this nice open source piece of software." - also included in the Readme.
- mrspeaker 8y ago
  I love open source and I wish it was still GPLv2, but am also a huge fan of Aseprite. It was the best $15 I've spent on software. Every time I open it up there is some update that I'm excited about (and absolutely tonnes of new stuff since 2016 [edit: "1274 commits behind aseprite:master" to be precise]). Plus, the interface makes me smile every time. I'm certainly not against LibreSprite - I'm keen to see where they take it - but just saying, "hats off" to Aseprite!
  - pjmlp 8y ago
    This is why it is so hard to make money on desktop FOSS software. As soon as the developer asks to be supported, the run to fork and keep using it for free starts. Then people wonder why most desktop related companies focus on Apple and Microsoft platforms.
    - gman83 8y ago
      "Asks to be supported" is different from "changes the license from FOSS to proprietary". Sure, they can do that, but don't complain when someone forks your software then.
      - pjmlp 8y ago
        Because "Asks to be supported" usually boils down to a few donations and patreon accounts that hardly pay the bills for most developers, unless they have other sources of income.
ericnyamu1 8y ago
wow.check out this cool forum http://mawazo.byethost7.com/index.php http://mawazo.byethost7.com/index.php
jchw 8y ago
I purchased Aseprite because it's nice. I'm curious if the author has ultimately benefited from changing the license, though. I'm not sure what it does practically aside from that Linux distributions can no longer package it.
- app4soft 8y ago
  > I'm not sure what it does practically aside from that Linux distributions can no longer package it. What you know about "OpenOffice.org & LibreOffice"? And what you know about "QCAD & LibreCAD"?
  - vonmoltke 8y ago
    How are any of those projects relevant to this discussion?
    - app4soft 8y ago
      Try google what happen with OpenOffice.org and QCAD, and why LibreOffice and LibreCAD now exists.
      - vonmoltke 8y ago
        All four of those projects are free and open source. Aseprite is, as of 26AUG16, paid proprietary software. jchw's statement was about the ability, or lack thereof, for Linux distributions to package such software. How are schisms in free, open source projects relevant to the inability for Linux distributions to package and distribute paid proprietary software?
        app4soft 8y ago
        > All four of those projects are free and open source. Aseprite is 'not fully proprietary', as it has 'sources open', but not free as other FOSS. > How are schisms in free, open source projects relevant to the inability for Linux. You manipulate about "inability for Linux"? For what? This news about cross-platform software. There NO any words in this thread about any Linux packaging issues.
7412589632 8y ago
this is a very nice forum,check it out https://www.bit.ly/2M0hqJa https://www.bit.ly/2M0hqJa
jasonkostempski 8y ago
I must have bought it right when it went proprietary, I think I was introduced to it via HN but I dont remember any mention of it formerly being libre. I only bought it because I thought my kid would enjoy playing with it, I chose it because it was on sale, DRM free and I couldn't find a decent libre editor. Guess I didn't search hard enough. My kid hasn't opened it since :/
- abritinthebay 8y ago
  It was never "free" as such - you were always supposed to pay for it - but it was possible to build it yourself. You did the right thing.
  - jasonkostempski 8y ago
    You're comment made me look into it. So it's still open source, just not GPL? Looks like I simply fell for a sales tactic targeting compulsion and naivety. They got my money, good for them. Anything associated with their name is an immediate pass for me from here out. No one did the right thing here.
    - abritinthebay 8y ago
      It’s open source but not free software. I’m honestly ok with that because I think making a living is important & the Linux distros are really bad at supporting authors of software. Fixable problem but appears to lack the will.
wertyhgty 8y ago
check. https://https://bit.ly/2M0hqJa https://https://bit.ly/2M0hqJa
jstewartmobile 8y ago
At $14.99, dude is already giving it away. LibreSprite is taking the GPL religion into the kool-aid zone. I'll go proprietary on this one. The man has earned it. https://www.aseprite.org https://www.aseprite.org
- app4soft 8y ago
  This news not about price, this news about FOSS software development, dude.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
    - app4soft 8y ago
      > GPL religion... So, You claim religion harassment?!
  - jstewartmobile 8y ago
    He did the overwhelming majority of the work, and put it out there for free for a long time. If he is at a point in his life where he needs to monetize, I'm glad to support him just out of gratitude. It's a dick move to undercut him after that.
- TeddyDD 8y ago
  > LibreSprite is taking the GPL religion religion into the kool-aid zone. False. LibreSprite is fork of last GPL commit of Aseprite, not even in active development. They are actually preserving cool piece of software. Maybe one day someone will want to develop it further or learn form it. Do you expect people not to fork when Aseprite author decided to close the source?
davexunit 8y ago
Glad someone is doing this. The author pulled a bait and switch and got away with it because the software wasn't really a community project to begin with. The switch happened right after I spent a good amount of time getting Aseprite's finicky build system to work so I could package it for a distro. If I had known the author was going to betray the users I wouldn't have bothered. After that I learned about Grafx2, which is free and pretty featureful: https://pulkomandy.tk/projects/GrafX2 https://pulkomandy.tk/projects/GrafX2
- eropple 8y ago
  Most open-source projects aren't "community projects" and "betray the users" is an interesting way to phrase "tried to get people to support the project, they by and large refused, and so he made it distinctly less optional". You're better than that, man. This stuff goes both ways.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - TAForObvReasons 8y ago
    People have contributed to the project under the original license terms. It's absolutely a betrayal to the contributors (and possibly illegal, requiring consent) to change the license terms from under their feet.
    - simosx 8y ago
      Did the community contributors assigned the copyright of their work to the original maintainer?
      - app4soft 8y ago
        Yes, original Aseprite contributors sign CLA.
  - TeddyDD 8y ago
grawprog 8y ago
I use asesprite. But only occasionally. I downloaded it before it became proprietary and only realized the license had been changed when I went to redownload it after updating my system. The thing is I never would have known about or started using asesprite if it had been proprietary from the beginning. As much as I get it's his project and he is the top contributed, I can't help but feel projects that start open source then go proprietary use the popularity they gain from open source developers and people interested in open source software to boost the popularity of their projects before truing to profit from them.
simosx 8y ago
I created a snap package for LibreSprite. You can try it out on Linux (with snap package support: https://docs.snapcraft.io/core/install https://docs.snapcraft.io/core/install) by running sudo snap install libresprite-simosx Then, run 'libresprite-simosx.libresprite' to launch it. Follow here the discussion for getting an official snap package of LibreSprite: https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/pull/25 https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/pull/25

204 points by app4soft 8y ago

Details[0] [0] https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/issues/10#issuecomment-394151936 https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/issues/10#issueco...

voltagex_ 8y ago
Sorry, this doesn't really help people who have no idea what Aesprite is or why it's suddenly an issue https://www.aseprite.org/ https://www.aseprite.org/, looks like a really nice pixel art editor / sprite editor. The author needs to eat, therefore relicense (I think). It seems like this is the crux of the matter: https://dev.aseprite.org/2016/09/01/new-source-code-license/ https://dev.aseprite.org/2016/09/01/new-source-code-license/ and https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite/issues/1666 https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite/issues/1666 https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite#license https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite#license
- speps 8y ago
  > The author needs to eat, therefore relicense (I think). In my opinion it's the author who should have been seeking a fork then. Getting the approval of all the contributors to do so, knowing that those people won't be able to help anymore. Also, that kind of thing is usually handled by a Pro version or advanced support for paid subscribers.
  - taneq 8y ago
    I took a brief look around the repo and it looks like the author is the sole contributor (at least the few files I looked at had plenty of commits but all by the author). A project being GPL'd doesn't necessarily mean the copyright isn't owned by one party.
    - speps 8y ago
      https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite/graphs/contributors https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite/graphs/contributors He's clearly the top contributor, but not the sole contributor. Sadly, it's why there's more and more projects adopting CLAs. Some that say that all the code you're contributing is owned by the project and not yourself. Allows for future relicensing in some cases.
      - taneq 8y ago
        Huh, thanks for that - I don't really use github and didn't know you could pull up that graph. In that case it looks like most of the other contributors contributed after the CLA was added but there are still a few commits from before that point. Accordingly he should have sought permission from those people before changing the license.
        agateau 8y ago
        He did. I contributed a few minor fixes and got an email from David asking for permission to re-license.
      - newnewpdro 8y ago
        > Sadly, it's why there's more and more projects adopting CLAs. Some that say that all the code you're contributing is owned by the project and not yourself. Allows for future relicensing in some cases. You're conflating CLA and CTA/CAA, the difference is explained here [1], and it matters. [1] https://opensource.stackexchange.com/questions/860/what-is-the-difference-between-a-cla-and-a-cta https://opensource.stackexchange.com/questions/860/what-is-t...
- mosselman 8y ago
  This was my thought exactly. The author isn’t asking the world, the tool is just $15. I believe in open software too, but this is pretty niche and if I really needed it I’d rather pay than not have it at all.
- deze333 8y ago
  Who's really got skin in the game? Perhaps the author who spent countless hours pushing the project along all those years, he took all the risks and uncertainties. Yes, all contributions did help but being a humble contributor I wouldn't ask for any kind of eternal obligation. Otherwise what kind of help is that? If one wants to give, they just give, full stop. Why not stick to free will? Notice the word free.
  - yetanother1980 8y ago
    If you feel this way you should never open source your work. Licences like the GPL as well as licences like BSD/MIT explicitly allow for forks like this.
  - s73v3r_ 8y ago
    Free doesn't pay the bills.
- app4soft 8y ago
  > this doesn't really help people who have no idea what Aesprite is or why it's suddenly an issue People should read at least title of this news: "LibreSprite – fork of last open-source release of Aseprite pixel art editor". If they will open link then they could read "History" chapter in README.md[0] [0] https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/blob/master/README.md#history https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/blob/master/READM...

akavel 8y ago

Rationale, if you went to the comments first, same as me: https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/issues/1 https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/issues/1 "Since https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite went proprietary on Aug 26th, 2016 (aseprite/aseprite@5ecc356), this fork and corresponding GitHub organization were created to preserve the last GPLv2 version of the code. Our reasons for doing so are multiple and likely different for all fork initiators, but a strong belief in free software is definitely to name, and as the GPLv2 license allows us to, we want to safeguard this nice open source piece of software." - also included in the Readme.

mrspeaker 8y ago
I love open source and I wish it was still GPLv2, but am also a huge fan of Aseprite. It was the best $15 I've spent on software. Every time I open it up there is some update that I'm excited about (and absolutely tonnes of new stuff since 2016 [edit: "1274 commits behind aseprite:master" to be precise]). Plus, the interface makes me smile every time. I'm certainly not against LibreSprite - I'm keen to see where they take it - but just saying, "hats off" to Aseprite!
- pjmlp 8y ago
  This is why it is so hard to make money on desktop FOSS software. As soon as the developer asks to be supported, the run to fork and keep using it for free starts. Then people wonder why most desktop related companies focus on Apple and Microsoft platforms.
  - gman83 8y ago
    "Asks to be supported" is different from "changes the license from FOSS to proprietary". Sure, they can do that, but don't complain when someone forks your software then.
    - pjmlp 8y ago
      Because "Asks to be supported" usually boils down to a few donations and patreon accounts that hardly pay the bills for most developers, unless they have other sources of income.

ericnyamu1 8y ago

wow.check out this cool forum http://mawazo.byethost7.com/index.php http://mawazo.byethost7.com/index.php

jchw 8y ago

I purchased Aseprite because it's nice. I'm curious if the author has ultimately benefited from changing the license, though. I'm not sure what it does practically aside from that Linux distributions can no longer package it.

app4soft 8y ago
> I'm not sure what it does practically aside from that Linux distributions can no longer package it. What you know about "OpenOffice.org & LibreOffice"? And what you know about "QCAD & LibreCAD"?
- vonmoltke 8y ago
  How are any of those projects relevant to this discussion?
  - app4soft 8y ago
    Try google what happen with OpenOffice.org and QCAD, and why LibreOffice and LibreCAD now exists.
    - vonmoltke 8y ago
      All four of those projects are free and open source. Aseprite is, as of 26AUG16, paid proprietary software. jchw's statement was about the ability, or lack thereof, for Linux distributions to package such software. How are schisms in free, open source projects relevant to the inability for Linux distributions to package and distribute paid proprietary software?
      - app4soft 8y ago
        > All four of those projects are free and open source. Aseprite is 'not fully proprietary', as it has 'sources open', but not free as other FOSS. > How are schisms in free, open source projects relevant to the inability for Linux. You manipulate about "inability for Linux"? For what? This news about cross-platform software. There NO any words in this thread about any Linux packaging issues.

7412589632 8y ago

this is a very nice forum,check it out https://www.bit.ly/2M0hqJa https://www.bit.ly/2M0hqJa

jasonkostempski 8y ago

I must have bought it right when it went proprietary, I think I was introduced to it via HN but I dont remember any mention of it formerly being libre. I only bought it because I thought my kid would enjoy playing with it, I chose it because it was on sale, DRM free and I couldn't find a decent libre editor. Guess I didn't search hard enough. My kid hasn't opened it since :/

abritinthebay 8y ago
It was never "free" as such - you were always supposed to pay for it - but it was possible to build it yourself. You did the right thing.
- jasonkostempski 8y ago
  You're comment made me look into it. So it's still open source, just not GPL? Looks like I simply fell for a sales tactic targeting compulsion and naivety. They got my money, good for them. Anything associated with their name is an immediate pass for me from here out. No one did the right thing here.
  - abritinthebay 8y ago
    It’s open source but not free software. I’m honestly ok with that because I think making a living is important & the Linux distros are really bad at supporting authors of software. Fixable problem but appears to lack the will.

wertyhgty 8y ago

check. https://https://bit.ly/2M0hqJa https://https://bit.ly/2M0hqJa

jstewartmobile 8y ago

At $14.99, dude is already giving it away. LibreSprite is taking the GPL religion into the kool-aid zone. I'll go proprietary on this one. The man has earned it. https://www.aseprite.org https://www.aseprite.org

app4soft 8y ago
This news not about price, this news about FOSS software development, dude.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
  - app4soft 8y ago
    > GPL religion... So, You claim religion harassment?!
- jstewartmobile 8y ago
  He did the overwhelming majority of the work, and put it out there for free for a long time. If he is at a point in his life where he needs to monetize, I'm glad to support him just out of gratitude. It's a dick move to undercut him after that.
TeddyDD 8y ago
> LibreSprite is taking the GPL religion religion into the kool-aid zone. False. LibreSprite is fork of last GPL commit of Aseprite, not even in active development. They are actually preserving cool piece of software. Maybe one day someone will want to develop it further or learn form it. Do you expect people not to fork when Aseprite author decided to close the source?

davexunit 8y ago

Glad someone is doing this. The author pulled a bait and switch and got away with it because the software wasn't really a community project to begin with. The switch happened right after I spent a good amount of time getting Aseprite's finicky build system to work so I could package it for a distro. If I had known the author was going to betray the users I wouldn't have bothered. After that I learned about Grafx2, which is free and pretty featureful: https://pulkomandy.tk/projects/GrafX2 https://pulkomandy.tk/projects/GrafX2

eropple 8y ago
Most open-source projects aren't "community projects" and "betray the users" is an interesting way to phrase "tried to get people to support the project, they by and large refused, and so he made it distinctly less optional". You're better than that, man. This stuff goes both ways.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- TAForObvReasons 8y ago
  People have contributed to the project under the original license terms. It's absolutely a betrayal to the contributors (and possibly illegal, requiring consent) to change the license terms from under their feet.
  - simosx 8y ago
    Did the community contributors assigned the copyright of their work to the original maintainer?
    - app4soft 8y ago
      Yes, original Aseprite contributors sign CLA.
- TeddyDD 8y ago

grawprog 8y ago

I use asesprite. But only occasionally. I downloaded it before it became proprietary and only realized the license had been changed when I went to redownload it after updating my system. The thing is I never would have known about or started using asesprite if it had been proprietary from the beginning. As much as I get it's his project and he is the top contributed, I can't help but feel projects that start open source then go proprietary use the popularity they gain from open source developers and people interested in open source software to boost the popularity of their projects before truing to profit from them.

simosx 8y ago

I created a snap package for LibreSprite. You can try it out on Linux (with snap package support: https://docs.snapcraft.io/core/install https://docs.snapcraft.io/core/install) by running sudo snap install libresprite-simosx Then, run 'libresprite-simosx.libresprite' to launch it. Follow here the discussion for getting an official snap package of LibreSprite: https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/pull/25 https://github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite/pull/25