Re: [Gramps-devel] GedcomX

[John R. <jr...@ce...>]

On Dec 24, 2011, at 1:29 AM, Jérôme wrote:

> John,
> 
> 
>> Sorry, I don't understand. Sure, the FS folks could fork Gramps like Legado did, but why would they want to?
> 
> 1. They developed PAF for Windows OS only and not a lot of up-to-date localized versions (the french version is PAF4)
> http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/lessons/paf5.html
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Ancestral_File#PAF_and_Ancestral_Quest
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Ancestral_File#Future
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Ancestral_File#Languages
> 
> Gramps is multiplatforms, localized, does not need to be compiled (it is possible for more confort under some environments... ;) )
> GNU GPL code is accessible, modifiable and current code is tested.
> Main API is accessible and could be used by others projects:
> http://www.gramps-project.org/docs/api.html#module-gen
> //Should move to AGPL[1] ???// # like did by VLC !
> 
> 2. they want to make money !
> 
> This is possible[2], they just need to share their improvements and keep to code accessible[3]. :)
> 
> 3. LDS support
> 
> Gramps tries to support LDS data - which might be added into any gedcom file - via a specific editor, but maybe developement might be done by LDS guys! Also for their own IDs.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Ancestral_File#Ancestral_File_Number
> 
> LDS content into Gramps might be removed from the embedded tabs into person/family editors. A contextual menu should be also able to open the current LDS editor! ie. 'python editors/gramplets' generated by commercial entities or not under GPL as addons.
> 
> 4. Microsoft guys are working on linux kernel for supporting theirs technologies! OK, Gramps is not a kernel, but instead of starting to work on something new, I assume it is more productive to help an existing project, which can also be used by them without licencing issue  or environement limitations.
> 
> 
> [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affero_General_Public_License
> [2] http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html
> [3] http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.fr.html
> 

Jérome,

FS stopped development of PAF and Gedcom at the same time, 9 years ago. They decided then that neither furthered their goals; instead, they shifted their focus to developing online tools, which they've been rolling out over the last three years.

However, they do recognize that a new genealogical data interchange standard is needed, that they're the only operation in the world with enough clout to make one stick, and that genealogists still want offline tools. I've discussed this twice with Jay Verkler, the CEO until last month, and I'm looking forward to meeting the new CEO at RootsTech and finding out if he shares that view. 

That said, I doubt that they'd revive or replace PAF. They started that back in the 80s when people were first using computers for genealogy and there weren't a lot of choices in genealogy software. That's not the case now, so I expect they'll continue their focus on online tools and leave the offline stuff to others. I'm sure if they cared about Gramps's Temple support they'd have one of their folks fix it up and contribute it to the project -- but since there are plenty of other programs out there that provide what they need in the format they want, why would they care?

Regards,
John Ralls