Proposal to Open Source Sylphyo Software

jcfitn

Hi Aodyo Team,

Given the company's closure, could you consider open-sourcing the Sylphyo software? It would let users and developers keep improving this great instrument.

Thanks for considering it.

Best.

Clint

I would heartily second this proposal. Releasing the firmware for the Sylphyo under an open-source license could potentially spur an ongoing community that supports development and growth of this great controller, and even potentially give rise to a re-birth of Sylphyo production.

Of course, there may be intellectual property issues that prevent this from happening, and the interested parties may have other paths or uses for continued development. However, open-sourcing the code does not necessarily conflict with those interests, as any downstream development of the open-source version could be incorporated into the original code and add value to that intellectual property ...

Here's hoping this could happen!

msouet

@Clint magnifique idée 😍

Peter Ostry

I'm afraid it's not that simple. Analysing the sensor data is the core of the Sylphyo, and Aodyo is unlikely to give up this technology so easily. The synthesiser code is perhaps less of a problem, it's not that special. But then there's the radio link to the Link, whose technology is probably licenced to Aodyo. What should be released anyway, the firmware and documentation or what?

I know a similar situation from Eigenharp. A freelance developer took over there, but the instruments needed software that didn't even belong to the manufacturer. The developer could only keep the instruments in operation alive. That was also important, the big Eigenharp Alpha cost more than 4,000 USD. I even had to make deep adjustments to my Mac system for my little Pico to keep it playing for a while. Finally gave up.

I'm not saying it's hopeless to aim for open source, but the Sylphyo is a complex system and an intellectual achievement. Even if Aodyo were to say ‘keep going on your own’, that would be generous, but not necessarily successful ...

However, I would be very happy if it were possible to continue in some form. Perhaps the developers will find a way, perhaps via another company.