Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!taumet!mike
From: mike@taumet.UUCP (Michael S. Ball)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
Subject: Do class libraries have to be in source form (3 of 4)
Keywords: libraries, source, C++
Message-ID: <178@taumet.UUCP>
Date: 20 Nov 89 15:35:34 GMT
Organization: Taumetric Corporation, San Diego
Lines: 49


Why do potential vendors of class libraries resist distributing source
code?  Warning:  the following is filtered through my prejudices.

I heard the following reasons at "C++ At Work":

1.  They will steal our source code.  ("They" was left as a free
    variable.)

2.  We can't maintain our code if the user can modify it.

3.  User's shouldn't want to see the source code.  They wouldn't
    understand it anyway.

I can speculate on a couple of other unstated reasons:

4.  We'll loose our mystique.  Once people see how simple the code
    is they will wonder why we charge so much.

5.  Let someone else see how bad my code is?  Horrors!

And a reason that they are so insistent on stating that libraries
should be object only:

6.  If we can persuade the competition not to distribute source
    the users will have no choice.

Only the first two can be argued, the others are simple (though
possibly valid) slander.  Let's take fears of thievery first.

1.  Many companies distribute source libraries with no difficulty.
    Source code for libraries isn't high on the list of hacker-bait,
    and the professional will be constrained by copyright and licenses.

2.  If, as many of these same people claim, all the work is in the
    design, the important data will be in the class interfaces.  The
    implementation will be a minor part of the work, so why hide it.

The maintenance question seems like a complete red herring.  Professionals,
who will be the major users of such libraries, know enough to be
careful when changing code, and would certainly not expect maintenance
for modified code.  Breaking the seal usually voids the warranty.

So what do you think?

Michael S. Ball	     		       email: uunet!taumet!mike	
TauMetric Corporation		       Phone: (619)275-6381
1094 Cudahy Pl. Ste 302		       MCI: TauMetric
San Diego, CA 92110