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NumWorks Calculator Changes Licensing (June 2021)

sidpatil 5y ago
I don't understand why software projects use Creative Commons licenses for source code. CC themselves recommends against it.
- yjftsjthsd-h 5y ago
  In this case, it was an off-the-shelf option that let them be sorta-open while imposing limitations. For true FOSS CC isn't good, but for this (imposing ND) it kinda works.
- techdragon 5y ago
  From what I can tell in this case and at least a few of the other projects that I’ve seen using CC licenses for code, the CC-NC and CC-NC-ND licensing forbidding commercial exploitation and sharing of derivatives respectively are advantageous things in the eyes of many projects. I’ve long wanted non-cc licenses that have these features. Sometimes you want to “show but not share”.
  - sidpatil 5y ago
    The original MAME license is the first one that comes to mind, regarding non-commercial restrictions. As for no-derivative restrictions, I'm not sure.
yjftsjthsd-h 5y ago
So I don't like this behavior, but it's actually an interesting problem; how should calculators allow modifications but also allow attestation of compliance for exam mode, and is it even possible to do so with modified firmwares? Of course, I somewhat lean towards the "don't ban features in exams and either ban electronics or allow any electronics, possible excepting those allowing communication" camp, but I can see a reasonable person disagreeing.
- bb88 5y ago
  I don't find it an interesting problem at all. Generations of mathematicians and scientists discovered secrets of the universe and made calculations without using calculators. 90% of my math tests were done without calculators. Science tests were only about calculating out formulas -- many of which needed to be memorized anyway. I think you either embrace the technology fully, or you allow only the basic scientific calculators -- something like the Casio FX 240 ($8 on Amazon). Stop artificially limiting what I can do with a gadget, just because of some stupid exam rule that hasn't applied to me in 30 years.
rambojazz 5y ago
I don't understand how to read that page. There's so much going on in it, where exactly is the article that matches the title of this post?
hucste 5y ago
Déplorable !

I don't understand why software projects use Creative Commons licenses for source code. CC themselves recommends against it.

yjftsjthsd-h 5y ago
In this case, it was an off-the-shelf option that let them be sorta-open while imposing limitations. For true FOSS CC isn't good, but for this (imposing ND) it kinda works.
techdragon 5y ago
From what I can tell in this case and at least a few of the other projects that I’ve seen using CC licenses for code, the CC-NC and CC-NC-ND licensing forbidding commercial exploitation and sharing of derivatives respectively are advantageous things in the eyes of many projects. I’ve long wanted non-cc licenses that have these features. Sometimes you want to “show but not share”.
- sidpatil 5y ago
  The original MAME license is the first one that comes to mind, regarding non-commercial restrictions. As for no-derivative restrictions, I'm not sure.

yjftsjthsd-h 5y ago

So I don't like this behavior, but it's actually an interesting problem; how should calculators allow modifications but also allow attestation of compliance for exam mode, and is it even possible to do so with modified firmwares? Of course, I somewhat lean towards the "don't ban features in exams and either ban electronics or allow any electronics, possible excepting those allowing communication" camp, but I can see a reasonable person disagreeing.

bb88 5y ago
I don't find it an interesting problem at all. Generations of mathematicians and scientists discovered secrets of the universe and made calculations without using calculators. 90% of my math tests were done without calculators. Science tests were only about calculating out formulas -- many of which needed to be memorized anyway. I think you either embrace the technology fully, or you allow only the basic scientific calculators -- something like the Casio FX 240 ($8 on Amazon). Stop artificially limiting what I can do with a gadget, just because of some stupid exam rule that hasn't applied to me in 30 years.

rambojazz 5y ago

I don't understand how to read that page. There's so much going on in it, where exactly is the article that matches the title of this post?

hucste 5y ago

Déplorable !