New version of DRM removal tools ("DeDRM")

[rantanplan]

Originally Posted by Karellen

I installed the new version, and it installed right over the top of the former.

So you can't really call it an alternative, as there is no option to install it as a new addon which would allow you to switch between the two.

You can install the Harper version OR the noDRM version. So you have 2 alternatives you need to choose from.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by jsessions

So million dollar question... does anyone know whether Apprentice Alf/Harper version will be updated in the future or has new fork been handed the baton?

Until there is something posted at Alf's blog or Harper's GitHub, we don't know and the baton hasn't "officially" been passed.

Unofficially anyone could take up the baton. There are currently 971 forks of DeDRM including noDRM's. No idea if any of the others are in active development.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Until there is something posted at Alf's blog or Harper's GitHub, we don't know and the baton hasn't "officially" been passed.

Unofficially anyone could take up the baton. There are currently 971 forks of DeDRM including noDRM's. No idea if any of the others are in active development.

github perverted the traditional meaning of fork with respect to open source software.

In github's universe the primary use of a "fork" is making pull requests. Even key developers might not have commit privileges for the official project repository.

[Lynx-lynx]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I asked some questions of noDRM about their plans and received a very detailed and well explained response.

Questions for noDRM

Perhaps that issue thread on GitHub would be a good place to continue the off topic discussion.

Thank you for taking that initiative and what an interesting continuing conversation it is.
------------------------------

for general info, I note that noDRM has suggested that those with queries may want to use the discussion feature as the way to proceed, link here:
https://github.com/noDRM/DeDRM_tools/discussions

EDIT
@pdurrant would the discussion link be something you'd think appropriate for inclusion in the first post?

EDIT 2
i see you've already thought that through, thanks Paul

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

github perverted the traditional meaning of fork with respect to open source software.

In github's universe the primary use of a "fork" is making pull requests. Even key developers might not have commit privileges for the official project repository.

Just saying that anyone with the know-how and inclination could pick things up as noDRM has.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Just saying that anyone with the know-how and inclination could pick things up as noDRM has.

That's automatically true with the right licenses.

[Lynx-lynx]

In error

[DNSB]

Both links in the first message open for me.

Edit: the message I was replying to now says in error. Shrug.

[Lynx-lynx]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Both links in the first message open for me.

Edit: the message I was replying to now says in error. Shrug.

David, I'd tried to open for over 10 minutes and kept getting error messages, then it suddenly worked. I'd thought the worst, lol

[Karellen]

Github was down for a while. Its back up now. I assume that was the link you were clicking on?

https://www.githubstatus.com/

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by odamizu

In addition, a new pull request on Apprentice Harper's GitHub fixes the macOS problem where key retrieval fails on new installations of Kindle for Mac. So far neither Apprentice Harper nor noDRM has incorporated it into their plugins. If one of them does, it will be good news for Mac users.

ETA: noDRM merged the Mac key fix into their plugin, however they haven't released a new version yet and not clear when they will do so.

Thank you for posting this. Now I know why it isn't working for me. I recently upgraded my older Mac to Catalina, which meant I could no longer run the older Kindle app. Now I have 1.31.0 installed, but even with the necessary files modded to not allow updates, it fails to strip DRM from Kindle books. I suspected that the key wasn't being accessed, but couldn't find info about it on the web until I searched here instead. Is there a way to manually fix this while I wait for DeDRM or noDRM to fix key access for Macs?

If this is spelled out somewhere in the forum that I've missed, I'd appreciate a pointer.

And to bring it back onto topic, I'd say that noDRM and DeDRM deserved separate topics since they are separate, though related, tools, but both have been included in the first post, so the point is moot.

Thanks for all the great info, folks!

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by Cootey

Thank you for posting this. Now I know why it isn't working for me. I recently upgraded my older Mac to Catalina, which meant I could no longer run the older Kindle app. Now I have 1.31.0 installed, but even with the necessary files modded to not allow updates, it fails to strip DRM from Kindle books. I suspected that the key wasn't being accessed, but couldn't find info about it on the web until I searched here instead. Is there a way to manually fix this while I wait for DeDRM or noDRM to fix key access for Macs?

Did you see this post? https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...&postcount=508

Not sure what version you were using before, but if it was pre-1.25, there are a few things you need to do (more than simply blocking updates).

And to bring it back onto topic, I'd say that noDRM and DeDRM deserved separate topics since they are separate, though related, tools, but both have been included in the first post, so the point is moot.

To offer a differing viewpoint, I don't consider them separate. It's not noDRM vs DeDRM, it's noDRM vs Apprentice Harper.

Both are developing the same DeDRM plugin consolidated by Apprentice Alf. You also can't have both versions installed at the same time. Installing one overwrites the other because they are different versions of the same plugin.

It would be nice to know if Apprentice Harper intends to continue developing the tools. If so, there will be two distinct forks/versions of the same tools. If not, noDRM's fork of the DeDRM plugin will become the current/active version.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by odamizu

To offer a differing viewpoint, I don't consider them separate. It's not noDRM vs DeDRM, it's noDRM vs Apprentice Harper.

Both are developing the same DeDRM plugin consolidated by Apprentice Alf. You also can't have both versions installed at the same time. Installing one overwrites the other because they are different versions of the same plugin.

It would be nice to know if Apprentice Harper intends to continue developing the tools. If so, there will be two distinct forks/versions of the same tools. If not, noDRM's fork of the DeDRM plugin will become the current/active version.

Well said.

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Did you see this post? https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...&postcount=508

Not sure what version you were using before, but if it was pre-1.25, there are a few things you need to do (more than simply blocking updates).

Yes, I saw that a while ago! It was very helpful. I had Calibre 5 working with Alf's latest DeDRM and Kindle 1.31.0 until November 1st when I wiped my drive and did a clean install because of a hard drive issue. Obvi, I didn't transfer over the key when I transferred pref and support files. I'm thinking of doing a clean install of Calibre 4, DeDRM 6, and Kindle 1.31.0 as is, get it all working, archive it, then upgrade and restore carefully after making an archive of the working rig. Thanks.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by Cootey

... I'm thinking of doing a clean install of Calibre 4, DeDRM 6, and Kindle 1.31.0 as is, get it all working, archive it, then upgrade and restore carefully after making an archive of the working rig ...

I think you may be over-complicating things. I don't know if a clean install of Calibre 4 is necessary. Whatever the case may be, get Calibre 4 working. Once Calibre 4 is working, upgrade to 5 on top of 4. Any "restoring" you do after you get Calibre 4 working could undo everything.