Open Source LSL

I propose LL makes the source code to Linden Scripting Language open.

I know, I know... it sounds way out there, and will probably never happen, but there are soooo many reasons this would work.

Assuming SL is properly constructed, LSL and its bytecode interpreter should already be a completely separate package from the main SL server executable. Open that source with some license that can be as restrictive or unrestrictive as LL wants. Also create documentation (which probably already exists internally to LL) for hooks into the main server executable and some sort of client-side VM (?) for local testing.

Create a developer program where people who wish to contribute to the source code must agree to whatever terms... possibly even a NDA if necessary. Registered developers can download source from CVS, modify, and upload again via CVS, then LL can be the central authority to determine what gets implemented and what doesn't.

If done properly, I believe this would actually free up LL resources to be able to focus on other parts of SL and at the same time make LSL better in many ways.

I know I'd be first in line to start contributing. First up on order would be performance enhancements, followed immediately by adding some of the most requested features. After that, I can only assume a full reorganization of the language would take place with full support for backward compatibility.

I guess I'll stop there before I get too excited about it... it'll never happen anyways.

I think it is, isn't it? Didn't somebody post the lex file or whatever?

Anyway, better than letting the users have their way with LSL, how about letting us write library scripts?

I wouldn't mind being able to do either, I have a feeling though LL having to go over every submited change to LSL may be more work than what they're doing now, depending on how many people sign up.

I like the idea of making LSL more user contributed though, could speed up the processes with getting some nice features in.

I fully understand the desire to create libraries that interface directly with the SL server engine or whatever API they create for us, but that also creates a security risk on the server for which there is no fix.

The alternative is to be able to create bytecode ourselves, and thus be able to create our own languages and such... but... that does not give us any ability to do more with the existing functionality except maybe some performance tweaks.

I say break the entire LSL interface, scripting language and bytecode interpreter out to open source.

Assuming that won't happen, hey LL... want a programmer who will work for free? <g>