All Source Code Should Be Open, Revisited

cconnell writes "In my last article, I presented the idea that all commercial source code should be open. In other words, part of the delivery package for any software purchase should be a copy of the source files. If everyone saw software vendors' design and coding, the vendors might stop shipping us such lousy programs. The article generated a fair amount of controversy. My latest piece follows up on this idea and includes a few adjustments that respond to reader feedback."

Comments

Re:Honestly, it would never fly.

[sconeu]

\i{Look at how today's technology compares to NASA. They sit and pore over every detail, examine and re-examine; approve and check. What are they using in the space shuttles? 386's for main computers still?}

BZZZT! And thank you for playing. They don't use '386s because they spent so long checking the code.... They use 386s Because they've been proven reliable. They spend hours and months poring over the code, providing traceability and working on correctness because if they fuck up, people die.

You can't compare NASA to today's "Ship it now! If we ship an hour later we'll lose $1M" business world. Totally different set of requirements.

Re:Simply Answer

[russianspy]

You have not read the article. Nobody is asking you to give away the source code for free, but to include it with the binary. If I pay for something you spend 400 hours writing, I want the source to that as well. The source is part of the product.
The article says nothing about giving it away for free.

Non-trivial code for banks ALL has source

[crovira]

Apart from word processors, spread-sheets and other "untrusted" apps, banks and anybody else who spends upwards of six mil a year for development and maintenance, will damn well make sure that they get the code.

For some of their stuff on mainframes and PCs they HAVE to to comply with banking commission and/or SEC and/or government regulations. Its more than just a good idea, its the law.

They have to be able to TOTALLY reassure the auditors and inspectors that NOBODY is 'skimming' pennies from each transaction. When you're talking a trillion transactions a day, week, month or year, it adds up to big time fraud damn quickly.

You CAN'T do that with a "pig in a poke." They get the source code to keep the baddies who can shut 'em down from shutting 'em down.

Re:Simply Answer

[Bytenik]

If you pay for a program, you pay for the binary. You now own a program that will perform to the specified dimensions. You do NOT own the source.

In fact, with many EULAs, you do not even OWN the binary. You simply own the right to USE the binary for a prescribed period of time. Sometimes this right is granted "in perpetuity", so it is, in effect, similar to ownership.

Re:Simply Answer

[slayer99]

"If you pay for a program, you pay for the binary"

Wrong. In most cases, you pay for the right to use the binary.