A) I'd like to contribute to the code with Cryptonomex (because these dudes are going places)
B) I'm not sure whether I want to build a business ON TOP of the blockchain or whether I will need to make a separate blockchain. In order to figure that out, I will need to understand the capabilities of this current blockchain.
With that said, I am already on brushing up on my javascript skills and have taken to learning Node.js which seems like it'd be appropriate for this. It would seem that the best approach would be to make a separate chain but in order to do that and morph it to the needs, I will need to learn the code. I'm aware of the licensing and have talked with Bytemaster and am open to negotiating in order to use a separate blockchain, or even building a side chain. The point is, I'd like to know the product I build and would like to help the BitShares ecosystem.
My recommendation is to try to stay on the BitShares chain if at all possible for shared network effect and interoperability.
Reasons for sacrificing these advantages:
1. Your application is philosophically incompatible - e.g. you want to build a government controlled chain.
2. Your economics are different - e.g. you need micropayments and ultra low cost transaction fees or some other rate structure.
3. You need to distribute new shares to a different demographic to gain their support and all the shares on this chain are already taken.
These are some of the reasons we
might agree to license Graphene to another chain, since by definition it can't compete because of its inherent incompatibilities.
Otherwise, if a chain competes with BitShares we would tend to accept the challenge and compete right back. (That is unlikely to result in a license of Graphene.)
Better to join us or convince us you are harmless.
If you are plowing new ground and give our BTSholders a stake, we would generally be in favor of that.
That said, we have learned that at all times we are dumber now than we will be later, so we want to defer every decision possible to our future smarter selves.