faking darktable

jorismak · July 12, 2021, 5:28pm

From what I remember, Apple is strict in allowing apps that offer functionality like the stock apps.

I don’t know the current situation (never used an ios device for more than 3 minutes. Not for a special reason, just nobody used them around me). But I think there is still a reason you will not find another browser engine on the app store after all this time.

lhutton · July 12, 2021, 6:56pm

I was talking the Mac App store, in theory someone could make a Mac binary of darktable, sign it and submit it fairly easily. For iOS there would need to be a whole rewrite and touch screen functionality added among other things. IIRC there may be some SSE/X64 optimizations that might not work well on ARM too.

AFAIK there’s no built in functionality to Mac OS or iOS that is similar to darktable. I think it’s likely just strict curation (someone at Apple is maybe more likely to catch the culprit is not the real darktable dev team) or their general rejection of GPL code in the App Stores. IANAL but I’m pretty sure the GPL is incompatible with Apple’s store terms. The NextCloud iOS App is GPL but they had to add this exception:

github.com

nextcloud/ios/blob/master/COPYING.iOS

The Nextcloud iOS developers are aware that the terms of service that
apply to apps distributed via Apple's App Store services may conflict
with rights granted under the Nextcloud iOS license, the GNU General
Public License, version 3 or (at your option) any later version. The
copyright holders of the Nextcloud iOS app do not wish this conflict
to prevent the otherwise-compliant distribution of derived apps via
the App Store. Therefore, we have committed not to pursue any license
violation that results solely from the conflict between the GNU GPLv3
or any later version and the Apple App Store terms of service. In
other words, as long as you comply with the GPL in all other respects,
including its requirements to provide users with source code and the
text of the license, we will not object to your distribution of the
Nextcloud iOS app through the App Store.

betazoid · July 12, 2021, 8:19pm

This looks legal. The guy states that DarkTable LightRoom is based on darktable. So he has modified something.
Has someone tested this software?
It’s a old version anyway.
Fwiw, I think this is somehow funny…

Dave22152 · July 12, 2021, 8:23pm

Definitely a case of Caveat Emptor. However, I’d be a little concern over blowback if paying customers were to mistake this private enterprise with the actual developers.

David_Prescott · July 12, 2021, 8:48pm

i’m a dual booter but never use the windows MS store (ok i think skype is only available from there now…)

David_Prescott · July 12, 2021, 8:50pm

which windows versions?

jorismak · July 12, 2021, 8:55pm

Oh that makes more sense, I was in iOS world with my head. Never mind what I said :s.

Ar_D · July 13, 2021, 1:10am

True, MS store is very laggy and unresponsive on my PC, And installing a 6GB game just takes 15 to 20 GB of my C drive, then I manually need to shift it in other drives. I don’t know if this is because of too much power on my CPU or the unstable update.

st.raw · July 13, 2021, 6:45am

…or anybody that has support for open source imagery on their mind rather than profit only. I have no idea if there is a cost involved listing on the MS Store, or what the legal issues are. So at this point I don’t even know if that seller makes money there. Would be interesting to see the sale figures though.

There are maybe ways to opt out, but there are probably many that prefer that type of safety. Really no issue for somebody that is very computer literate, but not everybody is. Look at how many get ransom-ware attacks and stuff like that.

wpferguson · July 13, 2021, 5:00pm

Code signing for windows 10 involves buying a code signing certificate, plus jumping through some hoops. Code signing certificates cost ~ $100US +. To sell on MS store you have to sign up for the partner program (there’s a free level) and obligate yourself (i.e. agree to a bunch of stuff that you probably don’t really want to agree to so they can spam you ).

ariznaf · July 13, 2021, 8:38pm

It seems there are free code signing certificates for opensource, in case you are interested.

Free code signing certificate for Open-Source Software | by Alexandru Rosianu | AR.Blog(); (aluxian.com)

(Well there were free, now they charge 14$ per year, not too much).

johnny-bit · July 14, 2021, 7:23am

The certificate in question is now more than $77 per year… In market where “typical” code signing cert is from $59…

kmilos · July 15, 2021, 11:07am

This post seems to imply publishing is now free:

joaotaveira · June 17, 2023, 4:31pm

This doesn’t work any more but this moron doesn’t give up: Microsoft Apps.
There are another guy doing the same*hit: Microsoft Apps.

Christian-B · June 17, 2023, 6:20pm

Hello,

Has the Darktable logo been registered?

Greetings from Brussels
Christian

MStraeten · June 17, 2023, 6:46pm

why? darktable is gpl so it can be forked modified and even packaged commercially.
Quite more interesting is that the package is named LightRoom - even the usage of an uppercase R doesn’t prevent it violating adobes trademark.

So if they doesn’t bother why wasting time here and give more publicity to that?

rvietor · June 18, 2023, 5:20am

Yes, they have the right to package it commercially provided they also offer the corresponding source code (possibly for a nominal fee to cover costs). No mention of that in those offers…

And as neither of the offers shows any contact information…

MStraeten · June 18, 2023, 7:59am

who cares …
if a buyer tries to find support he will find out that he wasted money for quite old stuff no one supports

elGordo · June 19, 2023, 12:24am

Other than the potential reputational damage to the real darktable.

MStraeten · June 19, 2023, 5:05am

Where’s the reputation damage? There’re no issues reported from users of that stuff and even in here there’s just complaining about an app no one uses you know Streisand effect?