Archiving Software

[Tony Duell]

> 
> Tony Duell wrote:
> > 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.

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

> 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