Let the flame wars begin!! Open source vs Closed source!
I've been wanting to cover this topic for a while and the recent Bambu Lab controversy (as well as the more quietly managed 'closed sourcing' of Prusa) meant I just had to cover it!!
It was also the perfect opportunity to introduce you to one of my little gang - the SV08 that I've had for many months, it's a great beast printer for larger formats.
As an aside, I think 3d printers should abandon bed size measurements in mm/inches and just go to what's important - this let's me print 8x8 gridfinity grids in one go at super-high speed!
Large-Format Sovol SV08: Against Closed-Source Industry Trends? (YouTube)
Comments (11)
p.s InkJet printer firms are the worst example of being anti consumer. The reason inkjets became so cheap was that they knew they had you locked in on the cartidges and each generation of their product had a slightly different cartridge that was only compatible with the printer (no longer available) that you bought 2 years ago and you get left with a stack of useless expensive cartridges.
Don't start me - I think a Kickstarter for an open source inkjet printer would break records, everyone hates them and their business models!
For me there are two sides to this - yes I'm a huge fan of open source and use it extensively for home automation - all based around home assistant and in my day job in IT. However there are times when I value the more seamless integration that someone like Apple gives, I can be sitting at my Mac developing Python and also planning a route to see some one and be on the iPhone having a call. I then get up walk to the car and the route is there on CarPlay and the call on hands free. The other big challenge that open source has is projects can grind to a halt when the maintainer retires or other life pressures take over. For me the importance is standards - there is nothing worse than finding out the latest dodang piece of home automation says its is based on standards and you find out that means it is based on some variation of a variation of the companies extension of an obscure protocol.
Great summary TC and you're exactly right, there is this balance of demands usually where neither would suffice on its own - OSS is brilliant as you describe, but also has it's own flaws. So long live both!!
Wow, this video is amazing. I love your perspective on the open/closed source push and pull, and how it is the interaction between them that shapes progress and innovation. A complex topic, distilled out expertly, in your own unique style and with fabulous production. Respect! Only one problem, how would I go about starting a flame war with this?
Thank Jan - glad you found interesting! Flame war - easy, just go into discord and announce that 'Battle Chess was rubbish', that seems to be the current 'love in' that's happening.... 🤣🤣
Think it's really useful to consider the nuances and consider hybrid solutions. The use cases as Fred mentioned are important. Is the emotion always frustration? Or is it passion? In a world of oligarchy and hyper capitalism the open source community space for collaboration is a restbite for many. A hint at the world we can create through mission based mass collaboration. It is when people feel an injustice they can be visible. Can we reframe that emotion as passion for a more just and inclusive world. I think one of the things that makes your videos so captivating is the passion you have for the topic, so hope this idea fits in with your vision.
You're spot on Martin - indeed, I think much like open source/closed source being opposite sides of the same coin, I could argue the same about frustration/passion. I guess this was part of my point - the movements you describe tend to start with frustration, eventually it builds to a 'we need to sort it ourselves' decision - this is the exact point frustration becomes something even more exciting.... a passion!
First let me say that my first and only 3D printer is Bambu X1C. As a user not running a print farm, my interest and need is for an easy to use product. X1C has filled that bill. I have embraced OpenSource in the computer world where I used Unix/Linux. In the 3dPrinter world I am just a user who wants to have a hassle free experience. BambuStudio has worked just fine for me. The printer has delivered quality prints nearly all the time. So, I will not feel the changes as I understand them. For me, in the US, getting filament from BS works fine. The last order was delivered in one day and the price for refill spools was the lowest of any alternate filaments that are available.
Exactly right Fred - I really am firmly of the mind that it's the variety that makes a healthy ecosystem. So whilst I go on about inkjet printer firms, it's actually the lack of open source/alternatives that causes the problem - if there was an option, all these firms would be dead in a week! BL works brilliantly for lots of people and a lot of the 'seasoned' veterans of 3d printing forget that there's millions more people now 3d printing who never did before...!
Two Katie's for the price of one. Production values going up. Good discussion.