Re: In praise of Ada Freeware

[Kilgallen@eisner.decus.org.nospam (Larry Kilgallen)]

In article <e4e97.11449$ar1.33669@www.newsranger.com>, Ted Dennison<dennison@telepath.com> writes:
> In article <5ee5b646.0107291409.6538ad64@posting.google.com>, Robert Dewar
> says...
>>Take two possible scenarios ...
>>
>>1. You write something in Ada, and distribute the resulting binary
>>as freeware (as previously noted in this thread, freeware typically
>>refers to binaries distributed free). What possible value can this
>>have in promoting Ada? None as far as I can see.
> 
> There might be some small value if you let it be known that it was written in
> Ada. I find a shocking amount of people out there with rather bizzare ideas of
> what can't be done using Ada. Hopefully widespread use of Ada software like GVD
> will slowly reduce the ignorance and prejudice. 
> 
> But I still have to agree that its worlds better to provide sources for users to
> actually play with. Most self-taught programmers started by tinkering with
> existing code. This is also a good way to get experienced programmers (who may
> need to tweek the code somewhat) exposed to Ada. The more Ada sources we make
> available, the more new Ada programmers we will see. Hopefully in time some of
> them will contribute back too. We really need to get some kind of snowball
> effect going, and this is the best way I can see to do it. 

Certainly making source available is implicit in Freeware as I described
it.  There has been no detail about the environments in which "Freeware"
is something where you don't get source.  Certainly folks running any
sort of production data center (or even centre :-) are going to insist
on either having source or having a reputable vendor they can sue if it
all goes up in smoke.  That reputable vendor does not exist with software
labeled as "Freeware".  (Even the public version of ACT's GPLed software
comes with the stipulation that you didn't get it directly from them,
so they cannot stand behind what modifications might be in it.)