Novation release open firmware for Launchpad Pro MIDI controller

From the README:

> We could have released the full source for the factory shipping firmware, but we decided not to for a variety of reasons. Instead, we created a simplified framework for developing "apps" on Launchpad Pro, which comprises a build environment, application entry points / API, and a library of low level source code.

This is a hard one. On the one hand it's great that they're making things more flexible, but as a person who prefers "free software" (ideology) to "open source" (practical matters), I can't help but think that only offering half of it is missing the point of an open firmware. What if I want to look at the LED multiplexing routines? They're allowing me to improve the product, but only with some confines they set up.

This looks good. Please email hn@ycombinator.com if you would like us to send you a repost invite. It's an experiment we're working on to give good submissions a second chance.