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Subject: Re: Programmers who refuse to share their programs

Author: Vincent Diepeveen

Date: 05:55:41 11/14/99

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On November 14, 1999 at 00:53:54, odell hall wrote:

>
>
> Would someone please explain to me the psychology or motivations behind
>programmers who refuse to make their program available to the public. In my view
>this attitude or lack of sharing, is no less than criminal, perhaps these words
>are too strong, but these are exactly my sentiments. I guess I thought Money was
>the drive behind all actions, that programmers would not be able to refuse the
>allure of the might dollar. Take for instance Ferret, and Tiger, one wonders if
>these programmers are rich and simply do not need the money. Certainly most of
>us would purchase these programs if they became availble. Or is it that these
>Programmers have a need to "totally" control their programs. Then they won't
>have to worry about disappointing results, since they control all the conditions
>themselves. Or they won't have to worry about people setting up matches against
>strong humans without their approval or supervision.  I don't know about
>anyoneelse but if I was blessed with the talent of exceptional programming I
>would certainly share it with the public and make a little money on the side.

Trying myselve to make a GUI for my program i find this email
as written above by Odell completely insane.

It's very hard to make a GUI that can sell some copies. If someone
doesn't want to sell his/her program and spare the effort and just
prefers to play with his program without ever releasing it, then
i can understand that completely.

What you demand here is another talent:
  - everyone must make a GUI

Secondly you find it logically that you get access to
any program which is also an insane thought.

Another very good reason why one should not sell a program is
because one gets always compared with Fritz, Chessmaster or
any other commercial program, preferably playing in a winboard
tournament at 5 minutes a move at a k6-300, or at 'carefully'
selected 'nunn test positions' or something idiotic like that.






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