Author: David Mitchell
Date: 15:38:38 09/18/05
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On September 18, 2005 at 17:50:46, K. Burcham wrote: > > >It seems many programs are below the strength of Fruit. >It is possible that most programmers now have this source code because it was >released. >How much of this high level code can be used in existing programs and everyone >still call their programs legal. >Can it be one line of code, 2 lines of code, 25 lines of code, etc... > >Also is it possible this code could be scattered throughout the existing program >so that when checked by tournament directors, it cannot be detected? > >kb As I understand the GPL, Fruit's code can be used by others, but it then becomes subject to the GPL, and the code must be released, a la Toga. In pratical matters, I suspect that Fabien's for loop looks a lot like everyone else's. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that nearly every chess engine written in the same computer langauge would share some few identical lines. Anyone who can program decently, with enough work, could create a program that was "Fruit in camoflauge", but then what would they have? A program they didn't really write, probably don't fully understand, and have obfuscated and perhaps crippled just a smidgen to keep it's true source hidden from others. When they're asked a technical question about it, what will they do? Open their mouth and sound like an idiot, or get suddenly sick and run to the restroom? :) Maybe "fake it", and just sound like they didn't really understand the question in the first place? Making improvements would likewise be very difficult. I think there's a real difference between someone like Toga's author, who was always up-front about Toga being based on Fruit, and many other cloner's, who tried to just pass their camoflauged clone off as an original program. The former, I would welcome to continue their work in improving Fruit 2.1. I view Toga as an asset all around, and a real compliment to Fruit. Should he choose to code up his own engine, I'm sure he could do so. Bottom line is yes, it could be done, but not that easily. And when they're done, and they're claiming the program is their own, then what have they got? Respect from others, or just a lie only they know about (so far)? Dave
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