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QuakeOn Source Code Release
January 8th, 2000
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CONTENTS

- Introduction
- What is QuakeOn?
- What's Included
- What Do You Need To Compile The Source?
- What Can You Do With The Source?
- What Can You Distribute?
- Can You Sell Stuff You Make Using This Source?
- How Can You Get Support For The QuakeOn Source?
- Conclusion

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INTRODUCTION

With the release of the Quake source code, it seems logical to release the source code for our Quake Front End: QuakeOn.  So... here it is...

We started writing QuakeOn almost three years ago, so to us, the code now seems extremely immature.  Of course, we learned how to do all kinds of crazy stuff in VB in writing QuakeOn (exploring PAK and BSP files being one of the most challenging and interesting), but this is not a model of excellent software design.

Of course, these days Hobbes and I respect and adhere to wacky things like "coding standards" and "object oriented programming"... but that is now, and this was then (or something like that).  And hey... stuff like that does pay off in the long run.  Fragbert now commands a team of developers who develope software just the way he likes it, and Hobbes is now a hotshot web developer for a very big and very cool website.

Dammit!  I'm rambling again!  Sorry!

Moving right along...

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WHAT IS QUAKEON?

You've downloaded the source code for something that you know nothing about?  How silly!

http://www.planetquake.com/quakeon (where you most likely got this file) will give you all the information you need...

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

This includes the source code for QuakeOn and it's accompanying system tray util QTray.

You also have access to the graphics used to create QuakeOn.  I haven't cleaned up the graphics directories, so you'll see everything in every format that I kept it in.  These graphics include icons (though I can't seem to find the original QuakeOn icon), Helping Head images (used for the Helping Head animations), and toolbar bitmaps.

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WHAT DO YOU NEED TO COMPILE THE SOURCE?

QuakeOn was developed with Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0.  I have loaded it into VB6 and run it with no problems.  This actually means that you may have a few little compiler errors if you try to load it info VB5 (which is no longer loaded on my machine).  The errors will be easy to correct (just delete any funny looking lines at the top of any affected source files), and everything should be just fine!

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WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THE SOURCE?

Hey, as long as it feels good and doesn't hurt anyone else, it's all groovy, baby...

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WHAT CAN YOU DISTRIBUTE?

I'm attempting to use the GNU Public License with the QuakeOn source release (the same as what was used with the Quake source release).  This license is included with the release in the file GNU.txt.  Basically, you may redistribute your creations based on the QuakeOn source code as long as you, too, provide the source code.  For further details, please consult the GNU Public License.

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CAN YOU SELL STUFF USING THIS SOURCE?

Probably not.  We're not saying that you can't, but we don't recommend trying.  There are many reasons:

1)  Who would buy it?  Trust us, the market for a Quake Front End is smaller now than it has even been.  And it was so small when we created QuakeOn that we knew it would only bring frustration and disappointment if we tried to sell it.

2)  Some of the graphics used (Helping Head, Quake Icon, etc.) really belong to id software (http://www.idsoftware.com).  Unless you remove all of these things from your release, id might get grumpy (Carmack told me so!)

3)  It would make us very grumpy.  We released QuakeOn for free as part of the free-spirited Quake community.  Besides, since you are required to distribute the source with your release, we'd just take your new source, fix a few of your bugs, and release a new free version!  So there!  Do it for love... not money...

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HOW CAN YOU GET SUPPORT FOR THE QUAKEON SOURCE?

You can't, really.  You're pretty much on your own here.  Of course, you're always welcome to send us questions.  If it's interesting, we MIGHT respond, but don't hold your breath (unless you're under water).

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CONCLUSION

We hope you have fun with and/or learn something from with QuakeOn source.  If you do end up using the code for something that you release publicly, please let us know!  We'd love to hear about your project!

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--> Brian "Fragbert" Kelly --> fragbert@planetquake.com
--> Greg "Hobbes" Bronzert --> hobbes@planetquake.com

