17 Dec
2005
17 Dec
'05
11:16 p.m.
Tony Duell wrote:
All I can say is that I stopped distributing _binary_ versions of my
programs because I got too many questions from total idiots. Supply
source only weeded out those that hadn't got a clue at all (in that they
wouldn't even try to compile it).
I've distributed a number of things as source-only under the GPL (which
means I don't _have_ to support anything). I have not had one stupid
question. I have had questions from people who are trying to do things
that the program was never designed to do, what I do then is explain what
I did, why, and maybe give some hints as to how to modify it. And in the
vast majority of cases, the other chap has managed to get the program to
do what he wants
Most (if not all) of us here realise the value of
proper technical
documentation, schematics, source listings, etc. It therefore surpises me
that people write programs to support classic computers and _don't_
release the source code. Ditto for stuff for amateur radio (which
according to my license is for 'self training in wireless telegraphy',
it's a lot easier to learn about how something works if you have the
sourc code for the programs involved....
Yep, but I suppose it only needs for you to get burned once for it to put you
off trying again. And given Dave's statement about NDAs, the source
*is* there if someone wants
to port it to another system or use it to enhance their own copy - it's just
The reason I want to read the source is that (of course) I'd like to
produce a linus program to read obscure disks (and yes, that would be
totally open-source). Now, I can't instantly see how to analyse a disk
format using the 765 controller. I could probably work it out, but I've
got other projects on...
I would want to read the source to Imagedisk to learn how Dave did it.
Not to copy his program, but to get ideas (as I have done many times in
the past, I may and, and I do always acknowledge the source of said
hints). But I am not prepares to enter into any kind of NDA about this,
since I don't fancy the idea of a legal battle if Dave (or whoever)
decides I have disclosed part of their code in my program.
-tony