tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1188127084207416.post8826149424807138753..comments2022-03-27T11:42:00.761+00:00Comments on A Scabbard for Biblical Software: Is e-Sword dead?jonathonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16488035329791188929noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1188127084207416.post-67447622511550306602010-09-21T13:54:06.466+00:002010-09-21T13:54:06.466+00:00I'm aware of the Cathedral and the Bazaar (and...I'm aware of the Cathedral and the Bazaar (and I'm also aware the Cathedral developed Windows has many more users than the Bazaar developed Linux, and doesn't look to be going away soon). In some ways I find development on TSP like a cathedral, not a bazaar, as there are a number of tasks that are only done by a few official CrossWire members, and I and others have observed in years of following the lists that it seems to have a fairly high barrier of entry to new developers, though whether intentionally or not I cannot tell.<br /><br />I definitely think TSP has a future, because there are still a few significant niches that it is apparently serving better than any other software around, and because it <b>can</b> be changed by anyone. I'm just not sure FLOSS Bible software attracts as much lasting developer interest as other FLOSS software (not sure why), and most of the frontends are teams of one or a few active developers rather than the many eyes prescribed by Cathedral and Bazaar.<br /><br />I suppose my optimism about its future to some extent fluctuates depending on the amount of time I myself have been able to spend on it, and that has not been much time for quite a while.Jon Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1188127084207416.post-7353024391767964672010-09-20T18:55:46.782+00:002010-09-20T18:55:46.782+00:00A lot of my thinking about the long term viability...A lot of my thinking about the long term viability of _The Sword Project_ is from _The Cathedral and the Bazaar_.<br /><br />It is much easier for a programmer to add "missing functionality" to one of the thirty something different front ends that TSP has, than waiting for Rick (e-Sword) or Costas (The Word) or Craig (Laridian) or Steve (Olive Tree) to implement it. Or to wait for the program to be ported to a new platform.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11049661026899657502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1188127084207416.post-22489442441082685032010-09-20T14:01:17.696+00:002010-09-20T14:01:17.696+00:00While Sword application developers can theoretical...While Sword application developers can theoretically add any functionality, in practice I haven't seen any evidence that any such software (including BPBible) is likely to add some major important functionality. A more frequent factor is apologies for not getting much done and not being where they would want to be (and again, I am included in this list). Things that are partially or largely data-related, not just code related, seem even less likely to be done (example: Logos Controlled Vocabulary).<br /><br />To my mind resources have always been the biggest issue with SWORD. As you mention, being FLOSS means it will be unlikely to get much easier.<br /><br />Synchronisation (which you mentioned) is going to be another big factor. It is not always easy to transfer things between different SWORD desktop applications (or even the same application on a different platform). Things like synchronising to iPhone are unlikely to happen any time soon (though I'm sure they have been asked for). Talks attempting to establish standards have always broken down with disagreements as to what should be included and what not [note that here I'm talking about <b>user</b> notes. SWORD modules are usually able to be used in any application - with the exception of alternate versification and RTF modules].<br /><br />I think, like e-Sword and the Word, SWORD software will always retain some interest from people who like things to be free. I think a fair percentage of people not using English as a primary language tend to gravitate to it as well for some reason. However, I haven't seen a lot which would suggest that it will become more important than it is now, and the choice of applications that is always touted as an advantage could become a heavy weight around its neck.Jon Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com