Without a doubt, the correct solution is to transition to a model based around a backed-up file server. However, as you point out, changing user behavior is hard. Here are a few suggestions for how to make the transition easier:
Make sure that the new solution is in place and working. It sounds obvious, but users will pounce on any problem in the new system as an excuse to avoid changing their behavior. Debug your new backed up file server thoroughly.
Start with the power users. Transitioning onto a file server is an unusual problem in that it CAN actually be done one user at a time. Cultivate good habits in the people who give advice to the rest of the office.
Use TweakUI on the clients. The TweakUI powertoy lets you specify a disk path for the "My Documents" folder. You can remap this to the file server's drive letter, causing it to pop up as the default storage location when people hit save.
Carry out activities which highlight the strengths of the new system. For example, rotate people's machines out for service. When they ask what to do about their files, help them move them to the file server, and explain that that's where they should be anyway.
If you MUST do workstation backups instead (really, you don't want to do this), I have used the Retrospect system from Dantz. When I used it (admittedly several years ago) it did about as well as workstation backups can.
Christian Hicks
A two part problem
on
Abusing the GPL?
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· Score: 5, Informative
This sort of issue breaks down into two sub-problems:
1. Is it in violation of the GPL?
This question is not a simple one, but such actions may very well be violation of the GPL. If this matter reached court, the question would center on whether the process applied to the GPL'd code constituted part of the process to create the derivative work, as derivitive work is defined in the GPL. For example, an expert might argue that code obfuscation can be part of the compilation process. It is oversimplified to say that laws are reinterpreted on the fly to capture the intent of the law. What is true is that these sorts of questions - for example, what constitutes compilation - are likely to be viewed in a manner which assists the obvious intent of the applicable contract/law.
2. If it is a violation, can it be proved?
Probably. Our company works for lawyers on code plagiarism cases all the time. There are many algorithms you can apply to show statistically significant relationships between a body of code and its obfuscated counterpart. The same should be possible with bytecode. Once a reasonable basis for suspicion is established, plaintiffs could get discovery of the company's code repositories and depose employees under oath.
Slashdot Mirror
This is particularly irritating when line one is commented out.
Christian
- Make sure that the new solution is in place and working. It sounds obvious, but users will pounce on any problem in the new system as an excuse to avoid changing their behavior. Debug your new backed up file server thoroughly.
- Start with the power users. Transitioning onto a file server is an unusual problem in that it CAN actually be done one user at a time. Cultivate good habits in the people who give advice to the rest of the office.
- Use TweakUI on the clients. The TweakUI powertoy lets you specify a disk path for the "My Documents" folder. You can remap this to the file server's drive letter, causing it to pop up as the default storage location when people hit save.
- Carry out activities which highlight the strengths of the new system. For example, rotate people's machines out for service. When they ask what to do about their files, help them move them to the file server, and explain that that's where they should be anyway.
If you MUST do workstation backups instead (really, you don't want to do this), I have used the Retrospect system from Dantz. When I used it (admittedly several years ago) it did about as well as workstation backups can.Christian Hicks
1. Is it in violation of the GPL? This question is not a simple one, but such actions may very well be violation of the GPL. If this matter reached court, the question would center on whether the process applied to the GPL'd code constituted part of the process to create the derivative work, as derivitive work is defined in the GPL. For example, an expert might argue that code obfuscation can be part of the compilation process. It is oversimplified to say that laws are reinterpreted on the fly to capture the intent of the law. What is true is that these sorts of questions - for example, what constitutes compilation - are likely to be viewed in a manner which assists the obvious intent of the applicable contract/law.
2. If it is a violation, can it be proved? Probably. Our company works for lawyers on code plagiarism cases all the time. There are many algorithms you can apply to show statistically significant relationships between a body of code and its obfuscated counterpart. The same should be possible with bytecode. Once a reasonable basis for suspicion is established, plaintiffs could get discovery of the company's code repositories and depose employees under oath.
Christian Hicks
Elysium Digital, L.L.C.
http://www.elys.com