Okay
@Marianna for the sake of it, let me show you what generalising your discourse is. Let's say I'm an OpenSim developer, and I want to create a new version of OS called CloudDream, here's how you discourse applies to it (or anything really):
1. Creative Freedom and Individuality
When standards are introduced, even informally among friends, it can set expectations for others outside the group. A creator might feel pressured to align their work with these conventions to ensure compatibility, even if they’d prefer to do things differently. This can discourage unique approaches and experimentation, which are key to OpenSim’s appeal.
2. Barriers to Entry for New Developers
New developers might find the standards intimidating or feel excluded if they don’t have access to the discussions that shape them. They could perceive the existence of such standards as a "right way" to create, which might dissuade them from exploring their ideas freely or even participating at all.
3. Risk of Fragmentation
While the intent is to align efforts among friends, the more groups that establish their own standards, the more fragmented OpenSim could become. Instead of fostering unity, it could lead to small pockets of creators with their own rules, making it harder for independent creators or those from other groups to collaborate without adapting to multiple frameworks.
4. Organic Evolution Is Often More Effective
Standards that evolve naturally—through widespread adoption rather than pre-agreed alignment—tend to have greater flexibility and inclusivity. They allow room for diversity and innovation, whereas predefined standards can feel static and restrictive over time.
I get that your goal is to solve a practical problem among friends, and I respect that. My concern is how even a small step toward standardization could set a precedent that might ripple outward, potentially affecting the broader creative ecosystem of OpenSim.
Let’s find a way to make tools and resources available that help creators without imposing the need for alignment—because OpenSim thrives when everyone feels free to create in their own unique way.