Protect yourself - download the source code
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With the way the economy is going and the prevalence of 3rd party software people are integrating into their software these days I think it might be a good time to ensure you have the source code where available for anything you integrate into your software. We use components from Telerik, DevExpress and Infragistics along with some other stuff and though I have the source code available to me I traditionally ignore it as unnecessary but I'm thinking now it would be a good idea to archive it just in case. You never know when one of those companies is going to suddenly shut their doors forever and you don't want to be left without the source code if that happens.
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson
The only third-party source code I have is for the MySQL .net connector. Though when I build it, the compiler throws lots of Obsolete warnings. :mad: 'Twas very good to have when I found a bug; I fixed it and submitted a report.
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Yeah I agree but the 3rd party controls/products with source are very expansive compared to the non-source controls.
Having to rewrite/replace the component and modify the rest of your app; because the vendor went titsup is can be worse. You should determine that as part of your risk assessment planning and decide if buying the source is worth it on that basis.
Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall
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With the way the economy is going and the prevalence of 3rd party software people are integrating into their software these days I think it might be a good time to ensure you have the source code where available for anything you integrate into your software. We use components from Telerik, DevExpress and Infragistics along with some other stuff and though I have the source code available to me I traditionally ignore it as unnecessary but I'm thinking now it would be a good idea to archive it just in case. You never know when one of those companies is going to suddenly shut their doors forever and you don't want to be left without the source code if that happens.
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson
this is exactly why my company sells access to the source (for relatively little cash) for all the toolkits we sell. i'm shocked at how few people bother to buy it, though.
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I've never seen that happen in the wild. There are never bugs in released products. :rolleyes:
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this is exactly why my company sells access to the source (for relatively little cash) for all the toolkits we sell. i'm shocked at how few people bother to buy it, though.
Wow, now I will shy away from any company that provides source code, fearing it is planning to go belly up... :)
You can't turn lead into gold, unless you've built yourself a nuclear plant.
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Wow, now I will shy away from any company that provides source code, fearing it is planning to go belly up... :)
You can't turn lead into gold, unless you've built yourself a nuclear plant.
:) we've been selling our source for as long as we've been in business (more than 10 years). i could get hit by a bus on the way home tonight, and all those people who didn't buy a source license are going to be screwed if they find a problem they can't work around...
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I've never seen that happen in the wild. There are never bugs in released products. :rolleyes:
code-frog wrote:
There are never bugs in released products
So you've used my software before, have you? :-\
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With the way the economy is going and the prevalence of 3rd party software people are integrating into their software these days I think it might be a good time to ensure you have the source code where available for anything you integrate into your software. We use components from Telerik, DevExpress and Infragistics along with some other stuff and though I have the source code available to me I traditionally ignore it as unnecessary but I'm thinking now it would be a good idea to archive it just in case. You never know when one of those companies is going to suddenly shut their doors forever and you don't want to be left without the source code if that happens.
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson
I will only adapt and/or purchase a third party control if the source is available and clearly illustrated that I can do anything I want to the code as long as it does not end up competing with the original product, much like DevExpress. who would of though that Nortel, GM, Chrysler would be in this kind of financial mess, as a component shop there will be no one there to bail you out.. A company who offers the source code along with the product illustrates that they stand behind there product and they are ensuring there customers interests come first. Microsoft is a prime example there best interests is there bank account nothing more nothing less
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this is exactly why my company sells access to the source (for relatively little cash) for all the toolkits we sell. i'm shocked at how few people bother to buy it, though.
I think in most many cases because they wouldn't be able to use it anyway. I personally see it as a quality sign that you let your customers have a look at the code. Whether they need it or not
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I will only adapt and/or purchase a third party control if the source is available and clearly illustrated that I can do anything I want to the code as long as it does not end up competing with the original product, much like DevExpress. who would of though that Nortel, GM, Chrysler would be in this kind of financial mess, as a component shop there will be no one there to bail you out.. A company who offers the source code along with the product illustrates that they stand behind there product and they are ensuring there customers interests come first. Microsoft is a prime example there best interests is there bank account nothing more nothing less
PoweredByOtgc wrote:
I will only adapt and/or purchase a third party control if the source is available and clearly illustrated that I can do anything I want to the code as long as it does not end up competing with the original product, much like DevExpress.
Nice to have but sometimes you have no choice or the company charges a ridiculous premium for the source. For component vendors it's becoming more and more standard to include source code and that will likely increase going forward, not so much for the ultimate end producer of the software that consumes those components though.
PoweredByOtgc wrote:
A company who offers the source code along with the product illustrates that they stand behind there product and they are ensuring there customers interests come first. Microsoft is a prime example there best interests is there bank account nothing more nothing less
I don't agree with that, we're closed source for many very good reasons, our bank account is not at the top of those reasons. We're doing very well right now but if it ever came to having to shut down for whatever reason we would open source at that point if we could legally do it just out of common courtesy. In some ways offering the source code could be seen as an admission of a lack of confidence to a business customer particularly. It's easy to offer the source code when you're not a market leader or not in it for profit, it's very difficult to make that decision in other circumstances. I think it would be nice if there were a legal framework in place to hold source code in escrow and automatically release it if the company shut down.
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson
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code-frog wrote:
There are never bugs in released products
So you've used my software before, have you? :-\
Has anyone? I've heard rumors, but you know...
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog Just Say No to Web 2 Point Oh
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PoweredByOtgc wrote:
I will only adapt and/or purchase a third party control if the source is available and clearly illustrated that I can do anything I want to the code as long as it does not end up competing with the original product, much like DevExpress.
Nice to have but sometimes you have no choice or the company charges a ridiculous premium for the source. For component vendors it's becoming more and more standard to include source code and that will likely increase going forward, not so much for the ultimate end producer of the software that consumes those components though.
PoweredByOtgc wrote:
A company who offers the source code along with the product illustrates that they stand behind there product and they are ensuring there customers interests come first. Microsoft is a prime example there best interests is there bank account nothing more nothing less
I don't agree with that, we're closed source for many very good reasons, our bank account is not at the top of those reasons. We're doing very well right now but if it ever came to having to shut down for whatever reason we would open source at that point if we could legally do it just out of common courtesy. In some ways offering the source code could be seen as an admission of a lack of confidence to a business customer particularly. It's easy to offer the source code when you're not a market leader or not in it for profit, it's very difficult to make that decision in other circumstances. I think it would be nice if there were a legal framework in place to hold source code in escrow and automatically release it if the company shut down.
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson
John C wrote:
I think it would be nice if there were a legal framework in place to hold source code in escrow and automatically release it if the company shut down.
Couldn't your lawyer provide one on request?
Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall
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With the way the economy is going and the prevalence of 3rd party software people are integrating into their software these days I think it might be a good time to ensure you have the source code where available for anything you integrate into your software. We use components from Telerik, DevExpress and Infragistics along with some other stuff and though I have the source code available to me I traditionally ignore it as unnecessary but I'm thinking now it would be a good idea to archive it just in case. You never know when one of those companies is going to suddenly shut their doors forever and you don't want to be left without the source code if that happens.
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson
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John C wrote:
I think it would be nice if there were a legal framework in place to hold source code in escrow and automatically release it if the company shut down.
Couldn't your lawyer provide one on request?
Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall
No because currently there is no legal framework, let's say a company goes bankrupt, they owe debts, a trustee freezes their assets for auctioning off or whatever, the source code is one of those assets. Let's say no one buys the source code, it still may not belong to the company to do what they want with. I'm saying a law that protects customers by making source code legally distributable in those circumstances. It's not a lawyer thing it's a lawmaker thing.
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson
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Has anyone? I've heard rumors, but you know...
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog Just Say No to Web 2 Point Oh
Jim Crafton wrote:
Has anyone? I've heard rumors, but you know...
It's just a flesh wound!
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Jim Crafton wrote:
Has anyone? I've heard rumors, but you know...
It's just a flesh wound!
You're a loony!
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog Just Say No to Web 2 Point Oh
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You're a loony!
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog Just Say No to Web 2 Point Oh
Ironically, it's the only way I can stay sane. Well now, that's clear as mud. :rolleyes:
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Ironically, it's the only way I can stay sane. Well now, that's clear as mud. :rolleyes:
I'm glad we've got that out of the way, maybe now we can make some real headway.
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog Just Say No to Web 2 Point Oh
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I'm glad we've got that out of the way, maybe now we can make some real headway.
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog Just Say No to Web 2 Point Oh
Jim Crafton wrote:
maybe now we can make some real headway
That ranks up there with "Mission Accomplished". ;P