Discuss the request to release GOG's future updater client as open source

[FutureSuture]

One can expect GOG to work on improving the service by providing some kind of updater client in the future, in order to compete with other digital distributors like Steam. While I'm sure if GOG would do such a thing, they'll preserve the DRM free nature of the service, by providing standalone downloads for packages and patches in addition to the convenience of the updater service. Being DRM free helps to build trust between the users and the distributor.

However there is another issue involved when it comes to trust. One of the major problems with other services - their clients are closed source. And they mess on your computer installing and updating stuff, while essentially being black boxes. This isn't how things are supposed to be done in order to build trust. A preferable approach is to make the client fully open source, in order to enable the community to review it, and to be sure it's to be trusted. GOG has nothing to lose from opening the client, only gain.

Of course if GOG would decide not to open it, then community would have to come up with open source alternative, if of course GOG would publish the proper protocol for their service. But it would be much better instead of reinventing the wheel to collaborate with GOG and the community by making the official client open to begin with.

Why I'm raising this issue now, is in order to give GOG some food for thought, since they might as well already be busy working on such service and client. And even if not, they for sure can consider such thing in a near future.

What do you think?

The above is only an excerpt. Here is the source. Also take a look at the corresponding wishlist entry.