Path: utzoo!yunexus!geac!syntron!jtsv16!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!phri!dasys1!wfp
From: wfp@dasys1.UUCP (William Phillips)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: Source ARCs are inappropriate!
Message-ID: <7189@dasys1.UUCP>
Date: 25 Oct 88 05:31:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: dasys1.7189
References: <7119@dasys1.UUCP> <3271@edsews.EDS.COM>
Reply-To: wfp@dasys1.UUCP (William Phillips)
Organization: Big Apple Home for the Thoroughly Confused
Lines: 24

In article <3271@edsews.EDS.COM> charette@edsews.EDS.COM (Mark A. Charette) writes:
[...]
>I like having both the source and binary packaged together. I may not have
>the {compiler,libraries,version} needed to compile the source immediately,
>so at least I can try the binary and figure out whether it's worth the
>conversion effort to make it work with my compiler.

>Also, I have a (little) more trust in a binary accompanied by source - the
>chances of the binary being a trojan might be reduced.

I agree entirely with both points.  Also, as has been pointed out, the
effort involved in unsharing, then zooing (or a*cing, if you prefer)
all the bits and pieces together for download can be a pain in the butt.
So much simpler just to remove superfluous lines, uudecode, and download.
Besides, you get the added benefit of CRC checks -- I've downloaded stuff
only to find it corrupted when dea*cing it, but at least then I _know_
it's corrupt and won't try to use it.

/bill
-- 
William Phillips                 {allegra,philabs,cmcl2}!phri\
Acting Co-administrator          {bellcore,cmcl2}!cucard!dasys1!wfp
BEC Public Excess Unix                      New York, NY, USA
                !!! JUST SAY "NO" TO OS/2 !!!