gnu@sun.uucp (John Gilmore) (08/08/84)
Recently there's been a rash of uuencoded object code in net.sources. I think this is a despicable practice, because source is not provided. One of the great things about this network is that there's a large (LARGE) variety of machines on it. Something posted in object is useful on exactly one class of machines. Furthermore, recipients can't fix bugs or make enhancements -- let alone consider porting the software to a different environment. While free object code w/o source is sometimes better than no code at all, I don't think net.sources is the right place for it. I think that posting object code without source should be discouraged, in Emily Post and by replies to people who do it. Is this the "sense of the net" or am I off in a corner? Followups to net.news only, please.
pmg@aplvax.UUCP (08/10/84)
Since object code is not of general interest it should probable be posted to a more specific group (ie. net.micro.pc ). Transfer of object code is useful when the source is unavailable, but it should only be brought to the attention of the users that can actually use it. The program in question was useful for me, and I read net.micro.pc to obtain information for my PC! Mike -- P. Michael Guba ...decvax!harpo!seismo!umcp-cs!aplvax!pmg ...rlgvax!cvl!umcp-cs!aplvax!pmg