Ratio Computers loves your work!

[Riccardo Brama]

Dear Dirk,

    it seems to me you felt my email as something aiming to harm either
your work or your freedom. I'm sorry for that and be sure I was not
meaning anything like that. What's true is exactly the opposite: we
would love to contribute in some way in it, providing documentation,
specification, information and our support.

    Since my time is limited I thought that writing in this ML could
have helped me in finding someone who:
   
    1. Knows the project well;
    2. Is willing to work on it implementing some new features improving
the support for our dive computers;
    3. Is available to collaborate with us on such themes.

    I know open source projects are usually lead and/or developed by
people yet having a well paid job, but maybe, out there, someone is
interested in a position taking care of developing such enhancements
with us.

>> We love seeing involvement from the dive computer manufacturer, it tends to
>> make many things easier for us too.
> No doubt that is true.

    That was our aim: making things easier and giving people something
they love.

> So: I have no problem with someone else using Subsurface for whatever
> purpose they want (as long as they comply with the license of
> Subsurface and the components that we use - i.e. make the full source
> code of the version that you ship available to any user, among other
> things). But I politely request that you change the branding and that
> you provide your own support. You can call it "Ratio-Divelog (based on
> Subsurface)" or just "Ratio-Divelog". But please don't call the thing
> that you ship "Subsurface". And please don't point your customers to
> us for support. 

    I never thought to point our customers to you for support, be sure.
Anyway, got that: if you prefer we can start a spin-off of Subsurface
for our customer's needs.

>  So yeah, this is where Linus and I disagree. You want firmware update
> support? Go ahead, implement it, publish the sources (see above about
> the license requirements), and we'll decide if we want to include
> this. But no, we won't do this for you. 

    Ok, sorry for having suggested that. I thought it could have been
easier to find out some skilled people within the Subsurface developers
community instead of starting things ground up. Nevertheless I will try
to see how we can act to do that.

    Again, sorry if you felt my email was aiming at limiting your
development freedom: that was definitely out of my scope.

    Hoping to hear us soon for news,
    My very best regards,
    R.

-- 
Riccardo Brama, Ph.D.
Chief of Engineering
Ratio-Computers, a Dive Industries s.r.l. brand
Via Vetturini 22/24
58024 Massa Marittima (GR)
Italia

Web: www.ratio-computers.com
E-mail:	riccardo.b at ratio-computers.com

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