4 ms·

Says it's open source but the link is password protected: https://printserver.ink/firmware/ https://printserver.ink/firmware/ I'll pass until that's normal.

ValdikSS 1y ago
This is an open source project in a technical sense (source is open and the license is open), but not in a social sense (no free as in beer available source code, no public support for everyone). Source code, as well as firmware updates and support, are provided only to the customers. When I sell the print server, I ask the buyer for the printer model, check its compatibility, and sell the device + guarantee that it would work for the buyer's printer. If it doesn't work properly, I'm first trying to debug remotely, and I could not fix it, I'm buying the same printer on flea market and debugging and fixing it until it works, and contribute the fix to CUPS/SANE/printer driver package. In other words, I sell tech support in a package, and I just don't sell the print server if it's incompatible with the printer. The goal of this project is to provide *ready-to-use, no-DIY device*, to improve the underlying software by directly contributing to it, for anyone to benefit from the fix. If you want to contribute to the printing stack and already know where to start, you should improve relevant projects, such as CUPS, SANE, printer and scanner drivers.
- ummonk 1y ago
  This is a really cool business model. You're being paid to prepare the firmware for a specific device, but will open source what you prepare.
- jacob019 1y ago
  You said in the same sentence that the source is open and not freely available.
  - ValdikSS 1y ago
    Yes, it's open only to the customers, as GPL requires: Selling Free Software <https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.en.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.en.html> > Many people believe that the spirit of the GNU Project is that you should not charge money for distributing copies of software, or that you should charge as little as possible—just enough to cover the cost. This is a misunderstanding. > Actually, we encourage people who redistribute free software to charge as much as they wish or can. If a license does not permit users to make copies and sell them, it is a nonfree license. If this seems surprising to you, please read on. You can buy only the firmware package as well, without the device. I'll send you the instruction on how to configure everything and which hardware modifications are required.
    - jacob019 1y ago
      Selling non-free software under a GNU license != open source. The title will be misleading to most people. Nothing wrong with charging for your software, but you shouldn't call it open source. Edit: Apparently I misread the title.
      - ValdikSS 1y ago
        If you're implying something, then please get your thoughts across more clearly. The title says "profit goes to open-source", meaning CUPS, SANE, AirSane projects, which are FOSS (free and open-source), if the publicly available code and collaborative development is what you're referring to. Additional software (web interface, scripts, utilities) is free, the source code is included in the source package. The customer is provided with the source code of the firmware components, and with the build system based on mkosi[1] to build the complete firmware: starting from bootstrapping Debian 12 builder image which cross-compiles the packages with additional patches and builds additional software, to ARM Debian 12 image with everything compiled in the previous stage, to the final squashfs OS file and MicroSD image. [1]: https://github.com/systemd/mkosi https://github.com/systemd/mkosi
        galaxy_gas 1y ago
        Is there any method possibility to purchase the software install on my own hardware and/or other payment methods? It is impossibility for self to send money to Russia without «consequences» and crypto is unpleasant KYC to access, much less importation of shipment from RU.
        ValdikSS 1y ago
        Yep, you'll need an OrangePi Zero 3 board, MicroSD, a button, and some soldering skills. Several options for non-KYC cryptocurrency exchanges exist[1], I also accept PayPal (non-RU account). Mail me! [1]: https://kycnot.me/?t=exchange&q=&fiat=on https://kycnot.me/?t=exchange&q=&fiat=on
        jacob019 1y ago
trollbridge 1y ago
If you buy it, you're free to redistribute the source. This is compliant with the GPL. $35 is an amazing price point for this.

ValdikSS 1y ago

This is an open source project in a technical sense (source is open and the license is open), but not in a social sense (no free as in beer available source code, no public support for everyone). Source code, as well as firmware updates and support, are provided only to the customers. When I sell the print server, I ask the buyer for the printer model, check its compatibility, and sell the device + guarantee that it would work for the buyer's printer. If it doesn't work properly, I'm first trying to debug remotely, and I could not fix it, I'm buying the same printer on flea market and debugging and fixing it until it works, and contribute the fix to CUPS/SANE/printer driver package. In other words, I sell tech support in a package, and I just don't sell the print server if it's incompatible with the printer. The goal of this project is to provide *ready-to-use, no-DIY device*, to improve the underlying software by directly contributing to it, for anyone to benefit from the fix. If you want to contribute to the printing stack and already know where to start, you should improve relevant projects, such as CUPS, SANE, printer and scanner drivers.

ummonk 1y ago
This is a really cool business model. You're being paid to prepare the firmware for a specific device, but will open source what you prepare.
jacob019 1y ago
You said in the same sentence that the source is open and not freely available.
- ValdikSS 1y ago
  Yes, it's open only to the customers, as GPL requires: Selling Free Software <https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.en.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.en.html> > Many people believe that the spirit of the GNU Project is that you should not charge money for distributing copies of software, or that you should charge as little as possible—just enough to cover the cost. This is a misunderstanding. > Actually, we encourage people who redistribute free software to charge as much as they wish or can. If a license does not permit users to make copies and sell them, it is a nonfree license. If this seems surprising to you, please read on. You can buy only the firmware package as well, without the device. I'll send you the instruction on how to configure everything and which hardware modifications are required.
  - jacob019 1y ago
    Selling non-free software under a GNU license != open source. The title will be misleading to most people. Nothing wrong with charging for your software, but you shouldn't call it open source. Edit: Apparently I misread the title.
    - ValdikSS 1y ago
      If you're implying something, then please get your thoughts across more clearly. The title says "profit goes to open-source", meaning CUPS, SANE, AirSane projects, which are FOSS (free and open-source), if the publicly available code and collaborative development is what you're referring to. Additional software (web interface, scripts, utilities) is free, the source code is included in the source package. The customer is provided with the source code of the firmware components, and with the build system based on mkosi[1] to build the complete firmware: starting from bootstrapping Debian 12 builder image which cross-compiles the packages with additional patches and builds additional software, to ARM Debian 12 image with everything compiled in the previous stage, to the final squashfs OS file and MicroSD image. [1]: https://github.com/systemd/mkosi https://github.com/systemd/mkosi
      - galaxy_gas 1y ago
        Is there any method possibility to purchase the software install on my own hardware and/or other payment methods? It is impossibility for self to send money to Russia without «consequences» and crypto is unpleasant KYC to access, much less importation of shipment from RU.
        ValdikSS 1y ago
        Yep, you'll need an OrangePi Zero 3 board, MicroSD, a button, and some soldering skills. Several options for non-KYC cryptocurrency exchanges exist[1], I also accept PayPal (non-RU account). Mail me! [1]: https://kycnot.me/?t=exchange&q=&fiat=on https://kycnot.me/?t=exchange&q=&fiat=on
      - jacob019 1y ago

trollbridge 1y ago

If you buy it, you're free to redistribute the source. This is compliant with the GPL. $35 is an amazing price point for this.