Re: [PHP4BETA] Byte-coding or protecting

On Thu, 24 Feb 2000, you wrote: > What is the general feeling about people trying to keep their code secret? > I mean, here is PHP, an awesome tool that is open source, as well as > apache, and all the libs and helpers and API all just given to us for the > common good. And then there are peoplke who want to use those free and > open tools to create closed and proprietary programs. If PHP and Apache > were like that then hardly any of us would even be here. > > To me it seems rude to try to lock up your code. > What does anyone else think? It certainly is legal to take open source software and use it for your own purposes, whether those are private or public. Of course you can't sell the software as your own without releasing the source, but that's not what we're really talking about here. I think it is poor system design to rely on security through obscurity. If you want to hide your code in an attempt to remain secure, you're just going about it the Wrong Way(tm). I can see where you might want to keep your code private in order to hide it from your competitors. If you are offering a service to customers and you base your service on open source software then I think you have every right to keep your code to yourself. If you don't and you let your competitor steal your source then you're going to have competition which your could have easily avoided. When you're questioning whether or not you should keep your code secret you should ask yourself if there is a good reason to do so. If you don't have a really good reason (security through obscurity is not one) and your source could be used for the benefit of humankind then I think the source should be released. Just my $.02. Thanks for listening. -M@ -- Matthew Hixson Code Mangler Vista.com Bringing Small Business Online