Mystic BBS Closed Source reddit / bbs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- drcyc · 2020-02-05 12:46 Hey all, As I'm investigating the available options for currently-maintained BBS software, I'm seeing a lot of active BBSs using either Synchro, Enigma, or MysticBBS. One thing that jumped out at me right away is that MysticBBS is truly amazing, however it is closed source as of a few versions ago. Does anyone have any input as to why this is? As a developer I'd love to be able to contribute and customize, however this does not seem possible. Thanks! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- rmiles7721 · 2020-02-05 13:01 Because the developer currently wants to keep it closed source. His decision for now. It was open source at one point. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- rmiles7721 · 2020-02-05 13:03 With support for Mystic's scripting language as well as python, plenty to customize as well. There is a lack of useful python scripts currently, feel free to help add to it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- denzuko · 2020-02-05 19:18 Wouldn't say it's completely closed source: [https://github.com/fidoso ft/mysticbbs](https://github.com/fidosoft/mysticbbs) But given the website is handing out version 1.12 alpha does get one to ponder what is going on. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- denzuko · 2020-02-05 19:22 that shift to a python engine for scripts plus the very well done display code and menu system has been a big killer feature for myself. I have a few projects planned around PIM, xfaces, and other utils common to every day use which would be written in python so might as well add a module for supporting mystic. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YserviusPalacost · 2020-02-06 15:05 Why not write your own BBS software? Sounds like a fun project to me! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DVinson68 · 2020-02-06 17:48 This is from the developer when this topic was broached recently in one of the support echoes: \--- The noise generated was almost universally very bad, so that was why I chose to go closed source. Things have been much better since returning to closed. But as you mentioned it is still on the table and something I regularly reconsider! There were lots of annoyances though: There were forked versions that were severely broken without really adding new features and people were trying to come for me for support. There were instances of people flat out stealing the code, changing the name of the software and slapping their name on it as if it was their work. The GIT site had constant spammers that would create 50 of the same fake bug report, or spam the forums with nonsense (think of the people who troll this echo from time to time - they're even more unstable when you give them an internet forum). It required constant moderation and attention. The project was REPEATEDLY reported for GPL violations from those same trolls which never amounted to anything, but still annoying. And finally, no one really ever came along on the level of someone like Deuce did for Synchronet. For the most part those that came along weren't interested in helping Mystic, they just wanted to take it for their own purposes. Seeing people literally steal my code and life's work to slap their name on it was pretty shitty. :( Its always on the table. There are some benefits too of course, but I just felt the negatives were far outweighing the positives and I was spending too much time dealing with nonsense and too little time writing code. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- drcyc · 2020-02-06 17:55 Fair enough, that makes total sense. I'm happy that the Mystic software is still under active development, and that going closed source was part of why this is still happening. I look forward to getting my own instance propped up sometime in the next few days here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DVinson68 · 2020-02-06 18:10 In fact, he JUST released a new alpha like yesterday or today. I need to get my 5 mystic systems updated. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tcupSF · 2020-02-06 20:52 As a python developer, what prevents me from really embracing it, is Mystic using embedded python 2.7. Given that it is no longer supported, python 3.x would be a welcome update. I’m tempted to fork x84 and rewrite it for python 3.x, but it is more of a time limitation at this point. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- RazorKitten · 2020-02-06 23:54 If you ever find the time let us know, that's the thing that's kept me from playing with it lately, I don't want to run something on a platform that isn't supported anymore... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thatpragmaticlizard · 2020-02-09 03:11 Honestly, this is the thing that keeps me committed from Mystic. I prefer mystic over Synchronet but ... old python just doesn't give me that comfy feeling. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mro_1337 · 2020-02-10 17:16 most of those things did not happen. i'm pretty sure that nobody took the code and slapped their name on it. nobody did that with synchronet or other open source bbs softwares. what i heard is robert wolfe took the source and hosted it on his websites and the mystic author didnt like that. ​ BUT.. the author doesnt like his stuff being open sourced, and that's that real reason. he doesnt like people seeing his code.