the idea here is not to create mods...the idea is to create tools to help others create mods. To create tools to help understand and learn. To create tools to do things people have thought of but don't know how to implement. To create reusable modules that can be incorporated in other projects - OOP at it's best!
Anything created is in the name of open source and not the creator(s).
Maybe someone has an application that can extract data from game files but because they lack the knowledge in DirectX they can't 'display' the data onscreen....maybe someone else has been trying to do what the former's application can do but they can't seem to code the file reading BUT they can 'render' in DirectX no problem....a perfect matchup. With a set groundwork of rules (how variables are named, indentation, function use, etc.) they can help each other out.
In open source no one is the owner of the 'project'. Is it owned by everyone. There would be a manager of the project but that's about it.
The first thing to do is get a team together and hash out the 'rules' and guidelines. Once the groundwork is laid and everyone understands it it's just a matter of writing code, sharing code, sharing ideas, and learning. Every good software application is planned before the first bit of code is ever written. And usually that plan is updated during the course of development because you cannot possibly think of everything. I'm sure if there is enough interest that we can get our own forum on here....if not, there's always BTS mods or some other place to gather.
Say you're using your favorite tool and you wish it could do this or it could do that. If it's open source code then you can make whatever changes you like since you have the source code.
It would be neat to be able to add the use of scripting to modules and such. I'm learning Python for the upcoming SH5 release but haven't learned how to integrate it with C++ or C# yet.