So I have begun a hunt for code that I can use for testing and analytics. And the code that I use must be available to read, not only run. Because while I will be doing a number of run-time analytics like performance and memory consumption, I will also be doing source code analytics. Analytics like total lines of code, or number of classes, measurements that would not be possible without access to source code, the readable, human-written form of programs. But source code is not always easy to find.
Since source code can be compiled and run on any compatible computer, publishing source code is pretty much giving your program away for free. Nowadays, almost all of the most popular software companies charge money for their software, so source code cannot be published from those companies. This is a shame, because I like open source software, and free software means a lot more than just a free price. Free software gives users complete control over their computers by giving its users the ability to modify the source code. For example, say a text editor on your computer cannot open a specific file type that you use without reformatting the pages and ruining all your beautiful bullet points. Well, if that program is open source then you can take control and fix it yourself, or more likely, search the internet for a fix already written. If the fix has not been written, and you want to alleviate the pain of those in the future who will encounter that same problem as you, then you can write the code and publish it yourself. It's a beautiful system full of progress and void of capitalism, but let's not start with that.
The main reason I like open source is because it allows me to read through the code and actually understand how a program is written. It's like taking apart a new remote control car to see how it works. It's incredibly fun and interesting and it promotes learning. So over the next few days I will be doing just that. I will be reading through others code and searching for the perfect example of Java or C++ to use for testing.
Thanks for reading!
-Jeff
Mmmmmm
ReplyDeleteYo no se nada de compilen ni de scripts. Estoy feliz de que el profesor te pidió que controlaras las pruebas. Si! Tu sabes hacerlo. Te felicito Jeff, un orgullo ver tanta ciencia junta... y no entender casi nada.
Un abrazo, Sra Slebos
Should the software released to public in either source code or bytecode be counted as Open Source?
ReplyDeleteMaintainable, allignment with coding standard and free from vendor restriction might be some other benefits.
Software released as source code is not technically "Open Source." Neither is bytecode. While in both examples, it is possible to view and edit the program's source code, neither give the user specific permission to do so. The term "Open Source" also entails the legality of alteration and redistribution of code, usually through the use of the GNU Public License, which removes all warranty and "Implied Warranty" of its code and the forks of its code.
ReplyDelete