Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!aplcen!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!husc6!genrad!dxb
From: dxb@genrad.UUCP (Daniel A. Burkhard)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
Subject: Re: Do class libraries have to be in source form? (1 of 4)
Keywords: libraries, source, C++
Message-ID: <29023@genrad.UUCP>
Date: 21 Nov 89 16:29:43 GMT
References: <176@taumet.UUCP>
Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 44

In article <176@taumet.UUCP>, mike@taumet.UUCP (Michael S. Ball) writes:
 .... stuff deleted
> time to die down.  I think there are still several questions worthy
> of wider discussion.
> 
> 1.  Are object-only versions of class libraries a good idea.
> 
> 2.  Why to vendors of class libraries want to distribute object-only
>     versions rather than source code.
> 
> 3.  Why did I (and others) have such a negative reaction to the
>     expert pronouncements.

I fully agree with mike in all points he made to 1.) and would like
to add the following:

	Class libraries are different from "function libraries"
in that they include a higher degree of design, that is a hierarchy.
The design of software system should be tailored to the specific
problem and not to a tool (library) used to build it. I certainly do
not want to adopt ONE vendors design philosophy just to be able to
use the library he is selling today.

	Some people develop software for exotic CPUs/OS. I wouldn't
rely on the class library "X" to be 100% compatible with my environment.
I don't expect the vendor to be interested to port to my environment,
I can't wait for the port, I don't want to spend the money, I don't
want to wait infinitely for bug-fixes .... . Not responding to these
needs, means neglecting a large market segment (remember: C++ is a 
systems programming language).

I have no additions to 2.)

To 3.):
	Telling a potential customer that he is to dumb to ever
being able to understand what the gurus (at microsoft) developed,
therefore he (the customer) never ever wants to know what he bought, just
turns me off. I have yet to see documentation that fully replaces source!

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Dan A. Burkhard				e-mail: dxb@genrad.com
Genrad, Inc.				Phone : (508) 369-4400 X3304
300 Baker Ave.
Concord, MA 01742