Slashdot Mirror
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."
int main()
{
printf("Hello World\n");
return 0;
}
OK... there, are you happy now!
come on fhqwhgads
That's not what this author is proposing. He is proposing the source be available for inspection, just like bridge blueprints are available for inspection, but they still can't be copied, because they are still copyrighted...
Not all blueprints are available. Bridges are (usually) public works. Try and get me the blueprints for the wing on a 747. What? Not available? I wonder why that is? Oh, *trade secret*.
Lawsuits don't solve everything. Yes, if everyone's code was open, you could spot similar pieces of code. But, come on, code plagarism isn't hard. Also, what if several people accidentally wrote the same code at roughly the same time and sued each other.
Plus, what about Johnny Gifted-teen in his basement. What happens when he writes a brilliant piece of code that MegaCorp snatches up and puts in their BigSoftware? Johnny sues them? With what resources? Do you know what it costs to sue a fortune 500 company? Hell, the government can't even do it successfully.
If all source is open but copyrighted, in theory it would all be a happy world. In practice, it's a simple way to screw the little guy and for the lawyers to make a mint.
Think before you kick in the automated slashdot responder, please.
sig?