Editing Veit Response CS Goes Corporate (section)

===Big plans for HC: going Open Source===

Which leads us over to HC: yes, we screwed up. We should have moved faster, addressed criticism more head on, and most important of all, improved the site. We got entangled in internal struggles commonly found in volunteer-only organizations, and we were lazy. Also, I'm not a programmer. However, we never died, HC has always been alive, the basic functionality is working, even if it's not as flashy as on CS. And we have big plans…

Already in 2007 we decided to go open source and release our code. The project stalled until late last year, because our programmers had decided to patch the current code and then release it - something that unfortunately never happened (understandably, the code apparently is a mess now, and it's very difficult to try to improve or change things for new programmers).

Late last year we finally took the decision to abandon those efforts and concentrate on developing an entirely new site based on new open source code. By chance I was hosted by Ariel in Buenos Aires in January, he had been offering his help for the last 8 years, and he took up the idea of our new open source site and started coding our new site. We are starting to involve other programmers in the effort now - if you would like to help, please get in touch with me: veit@hospitalityclub.org. We plan to release the new site this year and then together with you will build the best hospitality exchange website this planet has ever seen.

There is so much wrong with the decision CS took. They essentially did not have the moral right to sell (part of) the site to venture capitalists. It was built on many volunteer shoulders, who rightfully feel deceived now. I might not be the best leader of a volunteer project, but this is something that would not have occured to me in my dreams. It's disgusting. Venture capitalists don't invest into something because they are nice people - they want to get this money back, from you, the community! CS already made millions with the verification scam, what is next?