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I haven't seen a viable commercial programming library in decades, but that may just because I'm not doing corporate-centric platforms like C++ / .NET / Java .

by zzzeek 6y ago

I haven't seen a viable commercial programming library in decades, but that may just because I'm not doing corporate-centric platforms like C++ / .NET / Java . Beyond that, if there is an open source library, I don't see how a corporation steals that and sells it, as developers would just find the open source one and use that. It's also very difficult / impossible to not have the source available if the library is written in a scripting language.

pjmlp 6y ago
Just one example among many kinds of products that we reach for, https://www.telerik.com/ https://www.telerik.com/ As for scripting languages, encrypted custom loaders are relatively common.
- zzzeek 6y ago
  im sure they exist but I've never heard of anyone using anything like this in Python. I've seen some closed-source database drivers for Python which is because they are implemented as native C code. but nobody uses them and there are vastly better open source choices that everyone uses. Commercial libraries are not viable in the Python ecosystem where an open source alternative that is decently maintained exists, there's nothing to be gained by trying to steal an MIT library and selling it as some kind of encrypted package, nobody would ever use it.
formerly_proven 6y ago
Middleware for creative and engineering industries (games, movies, CAD etc.) comes to mind.
rkangel 6y ago
To give one example: Matlab toolboxes. The reason that enterprise uses Matlab (over Octave for example) is generally the availability of the various toolboxes. These are libraries that let you accomplish certain tasks easily. For instance, we use the Signal Processing toolbox regularly to prototype signal processing approaches or investigate system performance.
- enriquto 6y ago
  Notice that octave has packages as well. In particular, it has the "signal" package which is a somewhat limited clone of the corresponding matlab toolbox. Depending on your specific needs it may be alright for your application. In my experience the "core" parts of packages are well-replicated, but the user-interfaces are somewhat lacking in the octave side. Since I use octave mostly non-interactively, I do not really care about that.
giancarlostoro 6y ago
There's been some solid web based ones that have had my own boss considering buying a license (only held back cause we weren't near a real release of the project we needed it for yet). The web is already too hacky, a cleanly coded /featureful web library sells itself. There's also specialized cases where performance out of open source libraries is worth the premium.
vosper 6y ago
Highcharts is still pretty popular (and, IMO, worth the money)
- pjmlp 6y ago
  Indeed one of the best in usability and drawing quality.

by zzzeek 6y ago

pjmlp 6y ago

Just one example among many kinds of products that we reach for, https://www.telerik.com/ https://www.telerik.com/ As for scripting languages, encrypted custom loaders are relatively common.

zzzeek 6y ago
im sure they exist but I've never heard of anyone using anything like this in Python. I've seen some closed-source database drivers for Python which is because they are implemented as native C code. but nobody uses them and there are vastly better open source choices that everyone uses. Commercial libraries are not viable in the Python ecosystem where an open source alternative that is decently maintained exists, there's nothing to be gained by trying to steal an MIT library and selling it as some kind of encrypted package, nobody would ever use it.

formerly_proven 6y ago

Middleware for creative and engineering industries (games, movies, CAD etc.) comes to mind.

rkangel 6y ago

To give one example: Matlab toolboxes. The reason that enterprise uses Matlab (over Octave for example) is generally the availability of the various toolboxes. These are libraries that let you accomplish certain tasks easily. For instance, we use the Signal Processing toolbox regularly to prototype signal processing approaches or investigate system performance.

enriquto 6y ago
Notice that octave has packages as well. In particular, it has the "signal" package which is a somewhat limited clone of the corresponding matlab toolbox. Depending on your specific needs it may be alright for your application. In my experience the "core" parts of packages are well-replicated, but the user-interfaces are somewhat lacking in the octave side. Since I use octave mostly non-interactively, I do not really care about that.

giancarlostoro 6y ago

There's been some solid web based ones that have had my own boss considering buying a license (only held back cause we weren't near a real release of the project we needed it for yet). The web is already too hacky, a cleanly coded /featureful web library sells itself. There's also specialized cases where performance out of open source libraries is worth the premium.

vosper 6y ago

Highcharts is still pretty popular (and, IMO, worth the money)

pjmlp 6y ago
Indeed one of the best in usability and drawing quality.