Re: [Gnash] Gnash query

[Rob Savoye]

Jonathan Gowar wrote:

> i) Is there not a viable Flash alternative?  Not merely a free Flash 
> player!

  No there is not, plus there are millions of files of existing content 
in the existing swf format.

> ii) Free software projects that support proprietary formats will only 
> encourage its continued use.  Is there another reason to support, which 
> I have overlooked?

  Gaining access to all the existing content is important to avoid lock 
in. As Flash dominates the web for things like menus, and more than just 
YouTube, the free software community needs a flash solution, or we 
become 2ns class citizens on the internet.

> Clearly, Gnash is great, don't get me wrong.  But, why are trying to 
> soothe the symptoms, instead of producing a cure?

  The purpose of Gnash is to produce compatible tools, not to be 
inventing a new tool with no user base. Inventing a new format and 
tools, getting it adopted to where millions of people are using it is 
fine, but it's not what we're trying to do.

        - rob -