Open source is a noun, and open-source is an adjective. In general, the open source community creates original bodies of work, made by either an individual or collective, that are shareable according to a specific set of conditions, which are outlined by a specific open-source license.

In the context of makeyourown.lol, I have created a body of work that you can use as a launch pad. You can download source files, whether they are code or creative designs, and use them not only for yourself, but even to make your own versions of everything I’ve created over the years—as long as you share any modifications you make with the community where it originated, per my license terms.

If you want to make additional units on your own, now you can! Besides that, the store, your warranty and any user policies remain the same.

Thanks for being a loyal customer!

This website launched in June 2024. It took several months to prepare all files and documentation in a way that satisfied me, but it was worth the frontend time investment to achieve streamlined and organized resource access.

As I mention on the Welcome page, I had grown tired of keeping information bottled up after running a private store for many years. I wanted to get others engaged and excited about making things. I’ve always enjoyed learning and teaching, and I was allured by the principles that undergird open source communities.

My genuine hope is that you utilize my informational groundwork to learn and enhance your own skills and, therefore, make your own. So maybe you won’t need to buy anything from my shop at all.

One major “feature” you do get from anything purchased on my store (besides clearance items) is a warranty. I stand behind my products and the reason I charge what I charge is because I will repair or otherwise replace any defective product within one year from its purchase date. (Please see full warranty for details.) When you purchase from me, the designer of the product, you can rest assured my physical hardware will hold up to the rigors of real-world use. I have your back and have been refining my retail customer service skills since 2007.

On top of the warranty, for those who may be busy, aren’t interested in learning every required skill to fabricate a product or don’t want to invest in components or tools, I believe the store is a nice convenient option. The store is essentially a service I provide, where I will gather raw materials, assemble, QC and package the product as intended by the original designer (me).

The easiest and most symbiotic thing you can do is use my designs and share them with others, and encourage them to contribute their own remixes or modifications using the same hardware.

Beyond the role of maker, if you find errors in my public documentation or want something added (like a missing DC power connector pinout), you can contact me. Chances are much more likely it’ll be added if you tell me not just what you want added or fixed, but actually do the legwork and provide said information so all I have to do is data entry.

The aforementioned open-source licenses I have chosen require both attribution and sharing under the same license. Therefore, you can sell a digital file I’ve created, but it’s unlikely anybody would purchase it because it’s already available to everyone per my license.

If you want to 3D print an item I have designed or assemble a product I’ve devised using one of my guides and sell a physical version of it, yes: Commercial use and sales are permissible under the aforementioned licenses.