Close Source
Again I want to restate what this is about and what it will do to the community as a whole.
Key Points:
- Allowing creators to hide there code from view (Requires a mod to review code first)
- Allowing creators to disable the Fork function
- Allowing creators to take down exact clones of there code (More in depth later…)
- Increasing the amount of paid memberships on the platform (A subscription based model)
Hiding Code
You might ask yourself well can’t I already hide code? Some users may have the knowledge to obfuscate there programs but 90% of the time that same program can be deobfuscated. Hiding code will REMOVE the button that allows you to see inside the program and it’s files. And project that has this enabled will have to be reviewed by a mod to confirm that the is no malicious code.
Disable Forking
This would allow users to configure the FORK button. For example you could have it where whitelisted users are allowed to fork but only get the selected files they need. This would allow creators to share specific parts of there program with others and still keep it somewhat private.
Code Clones
This would allow creators to request replit to take down other repls that copy there code. Here are some of the restrictions
Allowed to be copied
- User changes more than 25% of the code with new/original code.
- User is using the code for educational purposes (Teaching lessons, etc…)
- User has permission from the creator to use part/all of their code
Not allowed to be copied
- User has changed less than 25% of the program or nothing at all
- User has been asked not to use the code
- The code is copyrighted by the creator
- The user is using the code to provide them with compensation
Membership
Replit could add this as a paid feature BUT allowing no-subscribers to choose 2-3 of there repls to use this feature. This feature would be equal to or greater than the price of a private repl.
Closing
I personally believe that this would bring more creators to the platform and allow devs to focus on there work instead of worrying about others copying there code. There may be some downsides to this idea but I believe that the good outweighs the bad. If you have any questions I will try and respond to them as soon as I can.
Developer, DistantShadows.