Re: Taking a PDF library Open Source

[Eliya]

But I need to figure out; if Perl programmers need this sort of library.

That probably at least in part depends on what it does that isn't already supported by other Perl PDF libs, such as PDF::API2.  Maybe it's worth integrating efforts, rather than publishing another lib with (likely) mostly overlapping functionality.

Other than that, if you own the rights, why not just do open source it, and let software evolution dynamics decide on its future?

[Old_Gray_Bear]

Other than that, if you own the rights, why not just do open source it, and let software evolution dynamics decide on its future?

Hear, Hear. I don't know of any way to a priori predict that unforeseen use an inventive User will put a piece of code, once it gets into the wild. Open source it, make it easy for folks to help clean it up and/or extend it an sit back and watch.

If we meet up at a Conference some time, ask me about "The company E-Mail system and three units of O+ blood at 0245 out on US 101...."

[gwhite]

Yes, it does things that PDF::API2 does not, the XML, the forms and it is well documented.

The reason I don't want to just throw it into open source is that I don't want to take resources that might be better served on a project that more people want, or that already has a head of steam. Maybe that is over thinking it.

[Eliya]

I understand the concerns, but I think it's generally hard to predict whether open sourcing something will result in an unproductive division of resources (man power of volunteers), or whether it will ultimately be beneficial, e.g. by promoting positive competition, by making it possible to merge functionalities, or by simply having two good libs being developed independently... (like there are many good text editors or scripting languages out there, with each having their fan base).

So I'm not really sure what to advise, in particular as I don't even yet know the library in any reasonable detail...