There is simple solution known to the threat being discussed. Look how Apple OS X is beibg released. Apple regularly take snapshots of the open source project regularly (BSD + Darwin I believe), tests it and put some additions into the code and releases closed OS for the customers. World Community Grid does the same for BOINC program, just not yet for scientific applications. There could be open source project for each of the scientific application, in that case the scientific teams together with WCG team would regularly make snapsohts of the projects, perform tests and corrections and finally put on their custom security code. I believe much time could be actually saved on the WCG and scientific programs this way, not mention it would ease creation of new projects.

WCG (i.e. IBM) would never endorse a piece of code** from an outsider for being distributed to their grid members. They could do it only after a cohort of lawyers had screened, filtered and protected every possible problem, and I know that WCG's boss has no intention to dive into such a process. And probably the would-be volunteer programmer would not do it either.

** This is already the case for the translation of a new website page to an already supported language, so, a piece of programming, can you imagine?

I find that attitude somewhat ironic considering the relatively extensive use of Open Source within IBM, but I certainly don't have time to fight an entrenched bureaucracy.

It's your loss, I expect that it will happen eventually, but perhaps from some other source.

I believe that everybody in this thread is right in his point of view. To the people having this idea and enthusiasts - just start it off and prove it can be done. Possibly there would be enough people to create project structure. What is needed is source code repository, forum, bug tracker and possibly some wiki. Not a big deal nowadays. You could start developing Boinc scientific module that would use Autodock Vina, then separately add GPU support to Autodock Vina.

Once rolling, I believe both WCG and non WCG public project will start looking into. But we need some proof of concept first.

astrolab: I meant a standalone open source community project outside of WCG.

If WCG chooses to use it's result in future it would be great, otherwise other BOINC projects might be interested as well as universities, research people etc.