Skip is now free and open source (skip.dev)

Article summary

Skip, a tool for building native cross-platform mobile apps, is now free and open source. The company behind Skip has removed all licensing requirements, allowing developers to use the tool without a paid subscription or license key. The Skip engine, known as 'skipstone', has been open-sourced and is available on GitHub. This move aims to increase adoption and community involvement in the development of Skip.

Main themes

• Cross-platform development
• Open source software
• Licensing and copyright
• Mobile app development
• Native app development
• Software sustainability

What commenters say

• The open-sourcing of Skip is a strategic decision to increase adoption and community involvement, as developer tools are expected to be freely available.
• The use of the LGPL license for the Skip build tool may pose challenges for developers who want to use it to build apps for the App Store.
• Some developers argue that open-sourcing software is not only a practical decision but also a moral imperative, as it allows users to have control over the technology they use.
• Others counter that open-sourcing software can lead to issues with copyright infringement and loss of income for independent developers.
• The effectiveness of copyleft licenses, such as the GPL, in protecting developers' rights is questioned, with some arguing that they offer little practical protection.
• The high memory requirements for using Skip are seen as a drawback, with some developers expressing surprise and concern about the recommended 32GB of memory.
• There are different opinions on the best approach to funding open-source software development, with some advocating for permissive licenses and others suggesting that charging for visual UI designers or IDEs could be a viable model.
• The issue of copyright infringement and the need for better protection for developers is highlighted, with some calling for regulation or mass organizing to address the problem.