From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,3cd3b8571c28b75f X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2003-09-17 11:21:58 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!headwall.stanford.edu!newshub.sdsu.edu!small1.nntp.aus1.giganews.com!border1.nntp.aus1.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!amsnews01.chello.com!newsfeed1!bredband!uio.no!nntp.uio.no!not-for-mail From: Jan Kroken Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: A Customer's Request For Open Source Software Date: 17 Sep 2003 20:21:57 +0200 Organization: People's Front Against Microsoft "Standardization" Sender: jankr@niu.ifi.uio.no Message-ID: References: <3F44BC65.4020203@noplace.com> <3F460D73.7090801@noplace.com> <20030822153839.5ec5c918.david@realityrift.com> <20030822184004.7e8c53bf.david@realityrift.com> <3F4769A7.6020503@noplace.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: niu.ifi.uio.no Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Trace: readme.uio.no 1063822917 19398 129.240.65.209 (17 Sep 2003 18:21:57 GMT) X-Complaints-To: abuse@uio.no NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2003 18:21:57 +0000 (UTC) X-Cite1: "Over 50,000 lines of code, you probably should be X-Cite2: programming in Ada." X-Cite3: -- P.J. Plaugher, Chair of the ANSI C Committee X-URL: http://www.stud.ifi.uio.no/~jankr/ X-Mail-Copies-To: never Original-Sender: jankr@nntp.ifi.uio.no User-Agent: Gnus/5.09 (Gnus v5.9.0) Emacs/21.2 Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:42632 Date: 2003-09-17T20:21:57+02:00 List-Id: Preben Randhol writes: > Jan Kroken wrote: > > Preben Randhol writes: > > > >> If you want to write open source software in the free time it must be > >> for either of two reasons: > >> > >> 1) You are making the software for yourself, but don't mind sharing > >> it with others. > >> > >> 2) You are making the software with an intent to one day perhaps be > >> able to make a professional version you can sell with a support > >> license. > > > > Is it ok if I use this as an example of the dangers of strong typing? :) > > If you explain what you mean first :-) Sorry about the delayed answer. I just saw the similarity between organizing information in a uniform group (a type) in strongly typed languages like Ada, and normalizing reasons for doing open source development in a distinct and discrete group that would fit well in an Ada type. The danger I'm talking about is that of viewing normalized information as a lossless or at least basically correct representation of chaotic information. The phrase I reacted the most on was "must be for either of two reasons". When it comes to motivation for developing open source software, there is a thorough study available at http://www.infonomics.nl/FLOSS/report/Final4.htm I'm unsure to what degree it is representable, since it was voluntary and distributed through the community by the developers themself. It also of course suffers from the normalization of the answers (and probably the questions too). In addition, when the people themself describe their motivation, the answer is probably going to be distorted by pride, self-glorification and other human weaknesses. -- Jan Kroken