Should I Release Version 2 of My B4XTemplate and B4XLib Management App? 🛠️🤔

[fernando1987]

Hello, B4X community! I want to share an important update and ask for your opinion on an ethical dilemma I’ve been facing.

https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/-libx-template-studio-v1-0-now-available-in-10-languages-.164188/

What’s New in Version 2
The new version of my tool includes a groundbreaking feature: source code generation from libraries. This feature was designed to help developers learn, customize, and reuse libraries more effectively, fostering project growth and efficiency.

My Ethical Dilemma
While this functionality has great potential for positive use, I am concerned that it could be misused to replicate and distribute code without authorization, putting other developers' intellectual property at risk.
As a developer myself, I deeply value the effort and creativity of others and do not want this tool to inadvertently enable the misuse of existing libraries.

Your Opinion Matters
Before deciding whether to release this version, I want to hear from the community. Do you think a tool like this would provide more benefits than risks? What measures could be implemented to ensure ethical use?
.
Let’s Decide Together
The B4X community has always stood out for its collaboration and mutual respect. Your feedback is critical to making an informed and responsible decision. Should I release Version 2, or focus on alternatives to better protect creators?

Thank you for your support and for being part of this important discussion!

 

[Alexander Stolte]

@Star-Dust will not like this at all

 

[AnandGupta]

The thing with b4xlib is "it is a zip file", so already source codes available.
I remember there was hue and cry when jar lib source lost of some developers and those who have purchased wanted some changes as per sdk change.
Erel came out with this solution of b4xlib, but essential the author's permission is required for it.

@fernando1987 I understand your dilemma as you are just helping to get an organized code which is just available there.

Lets see what expert members suggest here.

 

[fernando1987]

The thing with b4xlib is "it is a zip file", so already source codes available.
I remember there was hue and cry when jar lib source lost of some developers and those who have purchased wanted some changes as per sdk change.
Erel came out with this solution of b4xlib, but essential the author's permission is required for it.

@fernando1987 I understand your dilemma as you are just helping to get an organized code which is just available there.

Lets see what expert members suggest here.

Thank you very much for your response. I will wait for the opinions of the community to make the right decision.

 

[Sandman]

So basically you've made a feature to unzip a b4xlib?

 

[fernando1987]

So basically you've made a feature to unzip a b4xlib?

It also creates the structure of the b4a, b4i and b4j file within the folder, associating the files from the files folder, the library modules and the libraries described in the manifest.text file within it to facilitate your editing...

 

[Sagenut]

B4XLIBS does not have any kind of protection, so who was willing to infringe developer's copyrights it's already doing it.
For sure having such a tools will let even non experienced users to do such things.
This tools can be useful even for the proper authors to obtain project structure from their own B4XLIBS if code has been lost.
It's like buying a knife at supermarket:
someone will use it to cut steak at home, someone else will do bad things.
Did supermarkets stopped selling knives?
No.

 

[fernando1987]

B4XLIBS does not have any kind of protection, so who was willing to infringe developer's copyrights it's already doing it.
For sure having such a tools will let even non experienced users to do such things.
This tools can be useful even for the proper authors to obtain project structure from their own B4XLIBS if code has been lost.
It's like buying a knife at supermarket:
someone will use it to cut steak at home, someone else will do bad things.
Did supermarkets stopped selling knives?
No.

I also thought the same thing, in fact it helped me better organize my library source codes and templates without the need to unzip, create a new project and then associate everything with the new project.

 

[aeric]

I am not clear what this means. Is it like Code Snippets or Code example in the comments ?
I suggest you try to PM some members who provide restricted libraries and let them have a first look.