My feelings on Tab Mix Plus
I've just released LastTab 2.0.5 and it fixes a problem on Mac OS that finally allows LastTab's tab list to function properly on it, well coupled with Firefox 2.0. I was actually somewhat reluctant to even release the fix though after reading this thread over at the Tab Mix Plus (TMP) forums, http://tmp.garyr.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2385&highlight=mac. In order to fully comprehend everything you have to realize that the control-tab functionality, including the tab list, that TMP has comes directly from LastTab, my extension. So on that thread a TMP user is asking about the tab list not working on the Mac. And what does one of the TMP authors suggest to him? See if it works in LastTab and if so let him know because then he'll copy its code and incorporate it into TMP.
God that burns me. I think what pisses me off the most about this is that the co-author is basically using me as an indirect developer of TMP yet I get no credit for this. Yes, he did mention me by name -- and I really appreciate that -- but the fact is TMP would be nothing without the extensions that it's incorporated to provide its functionality. And all of the wonderful accolades heaped upon TMP would be nonexistent. Even though only two people currently maintain TMP we individual extension authors have directly contributed to TMP and we deserve to be recognized for this. And not just in some forum thread but I mean in all the places where the TMP authors are mentioned. Hell, even TMP locale translators get more credit than we do, yet we provided the core functionality that TMP is using.
If I sound a little bitter and pissed, well, it's because I am. To spend your time figuring out some problem and then have some guy come over and just take your work sucks ass. Feel like I'm in high school or something and the valedictorian is peering over my shoulder trying to look at my test.
In the world of open source about the only thing you have going for you is satisfaction in your work and recognition of it, people who release their code freely usually aren't getting monetary compensation. Many times the projects are labors of love. Seriously, why else would you spend days/months/years working on something for basically no gain? So yeah, I'm extremely peeved at TMP and their assimilation of other extensions and not giving the extension developers their proper due.
I wasn't going to write about this because I really feel the TMP co-author in question basically agrees with my grievances so there would be no point for this post, but I'm just so pissed I have to get this off my chest. I want recognition for the contributions I've made to TMP, and not just for me but for all the extension authors whose extensions have been included in TMP.
And just in case the forum thread over there mysteriously vanishes, I'm posting an image of the relevant part that got to me.
