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Winamp is going open source (feddit.uk)
submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk to c/foss@beehaw.org
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I used this for years, from version 1.9 all the way to 5.x when I moved onto other software.

EDIT: Here is the full press release.

Press Release- Inside information May 16, 2024 – 08:30 CEST Winamp has announced that it is opening up its source code to enable collaborative development of its legendary player for Windows. Winamp has announced that on 24 September 2024, the application's source code will be open to developers worldwide. Winamp will open up its code for the player used on Windows, enabling the entire community to participate in its development. This is an invitation to global collaboration, where developers worldwide can contribute their expertise, ideas, and passion to help this iconic software evolve. Winamp has become much more than just a music player. It embodies a unique digital culture, aesthetic, and user experience. With this initiative to open the source code, Winamp is taking the next step in its history, allowing its users to contribute directly to improving the product. "This is a decision that will delight millions of users around the world. Our focus will be on new mobile players and other platforms. We will be releasing a new mobile player at the beginning of July. Still, we don't want to forget the tens of millions of users who use the software on Windows and will benefit from thousands of developers' experience and creativity. Winamp will remain the owner of the software and will decide on the innovations made in the official version," explains Alexandre Saboundjian, CEO of Winamp. Interested developers can now make themselves known at the following address: about.winamp.com/free-llama

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[-] n2burns@lemmy.ca 81 points 6 months ago

The release doesn't say it's going FOSS. It doesn't specify, but it hints that it'll be "Source Available". Stuff like:

Winamp will remain the owner of the software and will decide on the innovations made in the official version.

[-] jarfil@beehaw.org 35 points 6 months ago

Could mean FOSS but they keep the trademark.

[-] n2burns@lemmy.ca 16 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Sure, but that's unlikely, given the wording. "Owner of the software" is fairly clear and trademark and software are very different.

[-] mox@lemmy.sdf.org 22 points 6 months ago

The open-source licenses that I've used don't require surrendering copyright.

[-] n2burns@lemmy.ca 11 points 6 months ago

The open-source licenses that I’ve used don’t require surrendering copyright.

The creator doesn't "surrender" their copyright, but someone can fork it and then have ownership of their version. "Winamp will remain the owner of the software" indicates you won't have ownership of a fork.

Again, it doesn't clearly state whether it will be "FOSS" or "Source Available", but if they were planning to go FOSS, you'd expect them to say something to make that clear. Leaving it vague seems like a strategy to get attention while not actually lying.

[-] mox@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I was replying to this exchange:

Could mean FOSS but they keep the trademark.

Sure, but that’s unlikely, given the wording. “Owner of the software” is fairly clear

The article's text said, "Winamp will remain the owner of the software". That does not, in fact, preclude giving it a FOSS license, nor does retaining a related trademark. GP was correct. They can make it FOSS and keep the trademark and copyright. I don't see any reason to think it unlikely.

The creator doesn’t “surrender” their copyright, but someone can fork it and then have ownership of their version

Forking someone's copyrighted work does not change ownership of the rights in any jurisdiction that I know of. If you meant "ownership" in a difference sense, like maybe control over a derivative project's direction, then I think choosing a different word would have made your meaning more clear.

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[-] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 9 points 6 months ago

Yep, the press release says opening the source code. It also says they're inviting developers to contribute.

[-] n2burns@lemmy.ca 14 points 6 months ago

It also doesn't include any wording that would indicate it's FOSS. It doesn't say anything about being able to fork, instead using phrases like, "participate in its development", "allowing its users to contribute directly to improving the product", and "will benefit from thousands of developers' experience and creativity".

[-] LordChaos82@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 6 months ago

Sounds like they are saying that Winamp wants developers they dont need to pay :D

[-] LordChaos82@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 6 months ago

When they say "inviting the developers to contribute", it sounds to me that they are looking for developers to work on Winamp without having to pay them. The article is filled with strange wordings.

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[-] beyond@linkage.ds8.zone 51 points 6 months ago

Notice they avoid using the exact term "open source" in this press release. I'm ~90% sure it'll turn out to be under some proprietary source-available license.

[-] sanzky@beehaw.org 8 points 6 months ago

I had the same though. No way they would choose that wording otherwise. they will probably just make it available, also make people who contribute sign their copyright away.

[-] termus@beehaw.org 10 points 6 months ago

They've already talked about adding NFTs to it. Winamp is dead and this is it's corpse being paraded around like Weekend at Bernie's.

[-] Turious@leaf.dance 29 points 6 months ago

I stopped paying any attention to them when they started talking about NFTs. This is cool news.

[-] pbjamm@beehaw.org 27 points 6 months ago

Winamp still whips the Llamas ass.

[-] somegadgetguy@lemdro.id 8 points 6 months ago

Came here just to say something similar.

"Going FOSS really whips the llamas ass!"

[-] OneCardboardBox@lemmy.sdf.org 22 points 6 months ago

Not sure if you're able to edit the title, but this doesn't look like FOSS, just open source.

[-] mox@lemmy.sdf.org 20 points 6 months ago

doesn’t look like FOSS, just open source.

Open-source software is FOSS by definition. Did you mean source-available?

[-] ollien@beehaw.org 22 points 6 months ago

If you ask the FSF, open source is a bigger set than free software, mostly to do with restrictions on the uses of the code

https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/categories.html.en

[-] mox@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

And FOSS is an umbrella term encompassing both Free software and Open-Source software.

I'm glad to see people taking interest in the meanings behind these terms. We all benefit from understanding them better.

[-] DrJenkem@lemmy.blugatch.tube 16 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Doesn't FOSS refer to software this is both free and open source? Not a union of free software and open source software? My understanding is that if a piece of software is not both open and free then it is not FOSS.

EDIT:

From the wiki page:

Free and open-source software (FOSS) is software that is available under a license that grants the right to use, modify, and distribute the software, modified or not, to everyone free of charge. The public availability of the source code is, therefore, a necessary but not sufficient condition. FOSS is an inclusive umbrella term for free software and open-source software.

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_and_open-source_software

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[-] Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 5 points 6 months ago

god i hate words

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[-] UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk 5 points 6 months ago

Corrected. 👍

[-] thejevans@lemmy.ml 8 points 6 months ago

There is nothing here saying it will be FOSS or open-source, just source-available.

[-] ProgrammingSocks@pawb.social 6 points 6 months ago

"This invites developers worldwide to contribute"

[-] thejevans@lemmy.ml 9 points 6 months ago

You can contribute to things that don't have open source licenses, it's just probably a dumb idea.

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[-] BarrierWithAshes@kbin.social 17 points 6 months ago

Very excited by this. Hopefully they go all the way and GPL it. There hasn't been any mp3 player I've enjoyed using as much as Winamp.

[-] LordChaos82@discuss.tchncs.de 12 points 6 months ago

Not a programmer but does that mean we will finally see Winamp come to Linux?

[-] embed_me@programming.dev 9 points 6 months ago

It really whips the penguins ass

[-] Twig@sopuli.xyz 6 points 6 months ago

XMMS, Beep, Audacious or whatever were always good enough.

[-] zurchpet@lemmy.ml 11 points 6 months ago

If you need a quick Winamp fix -> https://webamp.org/

[-] qweertz@programming.dev 11 points 6 months ago

They probably just want to cut down dev costs by outsourcing to ~~unpaid interns~~ volunteers

[-] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 10 points 6 months ago

I remember I used to use Winamp then Sonique then Foobar 2000 and that's when I switched to Linux.

[-] DmMacniel@feddit.de 5 points 6 months ago

Sounds familiar.

[-] AlexWIWA@lemmy.ml 7 points 6 months ago

Assuming there's no weird catch, this is amazing. I love winamp

[-] philluminati@lemmy.ml 7 points 6 months ago

I’d love to see it ported to Linux and for Spotify to release a fork of it again.

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[-] Radiant_sir_radiant@beehaw.org 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

That screenshot alone brings back so, so many memories.

Been with Winamp ever since my first 486DX all the way up to my first 4k screen when it became unusable due to size/scaling issues.

I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for this one to succeed.

[-] jay2@beehaw.org 4 points 6 months ago

They trip all over themselves just to seemingly not use the phrase "open source" huh?

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this post was submitted on 16 May 2024
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