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Subject: Re: Programmers who refuse to share their programs

Author: Pete Galati

Date: 12:11:41 11/14/99

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On November 14, 1999 at 11:19:27, Bella Freud wrote:

>On November 14, 1999 at 08:55:41, Vincent Diepeveen wrote:
>
>>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.
>
>I think you are quite right about this. Why expose yourself to needless attack.
>
>One effect of moderation of personal attacks is that personal attacks are
>switched to proxy attack by attacking your opponent's program. I would imagine
>that these attacks are even more difficult for the programmer than direct
>personal abuse. At least, in the latter case, the programmer can just fire some
>abuse back. In the former she is put entirely on the defensive. I have even
>observed protagonists here (when they are program supporters, rather than
>programmers) attack each other by attacking each others favourite program.
>
>All very silly in my opinion.
>
>
>Bella

And Vincent has allready released a very nice Diep for Dos several years ago, so
if there was some rediculous requirement that everyone who made a Chess program
is obligated to release it I would say that Vincent Diepeveen is allready off
the hook on this one.  Diep is amoung the best Dos Chess programs out there, I
highly recommend it.

Pete



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