[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] low.flying.pigs:
Short Answer:

Briefly, GPS Cycle Computer is OpenSource software. Originally, AndyZap, the previous lead developer provided source code with each release. However their involvement with GPS Cycle Computer abruptly ceased at post 919 on 23 July 2009, with the release of 3.114, approximately 5 years ago at the time of writing, and their last log in to XDA Developers was 3 January 2010.

However, as the source code was available, despite the abruptness and unexpectedness, it was nonetheless possible for development to continue.

Firstly, GPS Cycle Computer was branched / forked and developed in to a separate product. Subsequently, development of the original GPS Cycle Computer product continued by Blaustein / Klaus in posts 1098 and 1108 who became the current lead developer, GPS Cycle Computer evolving to where we are today. However, with the transition, source code ceased being made available as simplistic separate download for ease of use as before.

Current source code, up to 4.12beta22 at the time of writing, is however now available again as a simplistic separate download having enabled that myself without. This is essential to development and to ensure continuation of the project come what may, such as abrupt developer departure or closure of hosting, such as Google Code.

Regarding who implements features, usually the lead developer, in that capacity, does most of the implementations, deciding what will be implemented in official beta versions and full releases.

However, anyone minded to do so can again develop the software using the requisite source code. Whether or not to publicly share those efforts for the benefit of others is then decided upon by whoever made the effort. That decision is undoubtedly influenced by their experience of others. Notably, to date, other than myself, nobody has publicly shared recently any such creation derived from the released source code. The reasons surrounding this and other aspects that impede progress have been extensively previously documented.

Incidentally, regarding map formats, an early example of a request for simple easy to handle offline mapping, i.e. a single map file, was post 1165, on 26 May 2010, the issue recurring periodically thereafter.

Some comment from Blaustein / Klaus as to their current intentions regarding future involvement with GPS Cycle Computer would be useful in determining my own, and what further efforts, if any, to make.

Expanded Answer:

Briefly, long ago, Blaustein / Klaus, the lead developer at the time, indicated their active development of GPS Cycle Computer would cease at some future point.

This was in any event inevitable at some stage, it happens, and has happened before, and will happen to whomever the next is, if anyone.

Having made my own careful analysis of how best to utilise the remaining time available and to ensure the continuation of the project, or at least ensure continuation would be possible, four key elements as below were identified:

Functionality and Usefulness

Compatibility

Future development

Community harmony, cohesion, and engagement

All elements interrelate to one another. Non can be entirely accomplished without the others.

Hence considerable efforts were then undertaken by myself, for the benefit of all users to ensure that as and when the current lead developer retires, if that could not be delayed of averted entirely, GPS Cycle Computer would regardless be on a firmer footing for the future.

Functionality and Usefulness, as indicated by cursory examination of ReleaseNotes.txt shows from 4.9 onwards extensive progress was made. Cursory examination of the forum shows where that extensive progress largely originated. These developments are primarily towards enabling a viable basis for a future and bringing functionality up to a level with contemporaries to make usage or switching a viable option.

Compatibility, an essential part of any future, and part of Functionality and Usefulness, has been expanded. Windows CE 5 and CE 6 fundamental compatibility, which can be further refined, has been accomplished. This allows at least basic usage with the latest available dedicated GPS enabled devices. In the main these are all Windows CE 5 or CE 6 based. This compatibility provides a basis for compatibility with other platforms. Compatibility, and ease of use, is essential.

Future development, which requires active current users, which requires compatibility with recent and current devices, and how legacy devices are actually now used primarily, or would be used, i.e. as dedicated devices, requires current Source Code which is essential. Release of current Source Code was accomplished. Anyone minded to do so can therefore now further develop the software.

Community harmony, cohesion, and engagement, where lacking in all aspects as is the case with GPS Cycle Computer, has to be addressed. It is essential in providing feedback, enabling further development, that in turn creates further Compatibility, Functionality and Usefulness in the first instance. However as all aspects are lacking, future development, publicly released, is jeopardized. Therefore someone with a visionary drive and foresight to accomplish in the first instance what is necessary for the future, the functionality, usefulness and compatibility, was required.

The community element has to date regrettably been the least successful of all, negatively impacting on all the others. From the outset it was apparent the whole undertaking would be a mostly thankless and unappreciated task such is the current nature of the community. That is even more disturbing since it is not even necessary to actively post in order to show gratitude, a prominent thanks button existing for this and no other purpose.

Yet the general lack of apparent support in any form, and extent of the entirely mindless vehement active resistance encountered from the beginning and throughout, from various sources but in particular from a single 'user' clearly exhibiting the characteristics of a troll based upon overwhelming and compelling evidence, contributing little if anything of positive value, which pales in comparison to the damage done, has been absolutely shocking.

Extensive efforts, as extensively previously documented, were made to stamp out conduct that makes users reluctant to actively participate and the forum uninviting, to essentially no avail, undermining efforts in every other element. Therefore most ideas of how to promote GPS Cycle Computer and attract more users, and engage more new and existing users in active participation were never implemented, to the further detriment of the project.

The resulting disheartening and dispiriting feeling of dejection and despondency with GPS Cycle Computer is hardly motivational and whilst many good natured people will work on literally thankless tasks, they will not do so in return for what can be perceived as, and undoubtedly actually is contempt, disrespect and abuse.

In fact, since post 2226 was needlessly interrupted and dismissed as obsolete and thereby irrelevant in post 2227 and the following events, in what has been an long term ongoing problem, I have hardly studied the source code, C# / .NetCompact Framework programming, or used any of the development tools at all in comparison to what was intended.

Feeling somewhat dejected with GPS Cycle Computer, it had been intended to at least still submit all the feedback ready, compile and submit all the remainder already available, and complete what had already been started, however, matters did not improve, and relatively little was instead done. My personal enthusiasm and interest in the technical challenges, having been yet further eroded in almost their entirety, currently no longer provides sufficient motivation. Creating further modified betas or emulator images as required, conducting the requisite testing, analysis and research, which are all far from simplistic, straight forward, quick or easy tasks, all require considerable enthusiasm and dedication. I cannot say for certain if enthusiasm evaporated entirely that it would return at all, which is disconcerting in itself.

Nonetheless, in attempt to retain and regain any interest, where feedback to date has arisen on forum it has been addressed, in the usual considerable detail. It has been difficult to force myself to even do that however, given the total silence on forum from Blaustein / Klaus since post 2274, on 4th May 2014, almost 3 months ago at the time of writing.

Some comment from Blaustein / Klaus as to their current intentions regarding future involvement with GPS Cycle Computer would be useful in determining my own, and what further efforts, if any, to make.

Whatever the outcome, whilst it could have been substantially further advanced than it is at this stage, GPS Cycle Computer is nonetheless significantly better positioned than it otherwise would have been. It can at least have a future. What form that future takes and to what extent, if any, ordinary users will benefit, remains to be determined.

low.flying.pigs