Re: Is Some Software Meant to be Secret?

if I provide source of my app, don't I have to provide it during developement phase too?

Isn't this normal practice for open source apps? Couldn't you download daily builds of Firefox?

Yes. Thats why I felt that Tim Bray mentioning that if a super feature is being included it will not give an advantage to rivals till released. Maybe their design would be different but an idea could be incorporated.


I think a major difference between closed source apps and open source counterparts is that open source doesn't really have a strong sense of versioning. It is a very iterative process. Using FireFox as an example... people have been using it way before they released 1.0. It's part of the "culture". You're expected to keep up.

I disagree here. The users of open source API's are generally more adventurous, but the feature set for each version are generally clearly defined. If more co's start using open source products, they will be more slow to update versions and even take beta releases.


How does Sun do it for Java APIs?

I am not sure about the Java API. The Java JDK has been released as a project at java.net. This is a Sun site where loads of open and not-so-open projects are hosted. So you can start off with Java 6.0 today. Sun has mentioned that they are going to provide faster releases in the future.




MS sees a subscription based model as the future.

Dyou really think this model will work?

Dunno. Any new model will take time for adoption. Sun is actually doing it now. It seems scary but it seems more correct to me. In todays world everything is connected to the net. For a co. (who buy software) subscription seems better as they get new releases. Can switch after a year with lower costs. Lots of co's pay loads for new software. That leaves them with old versions very soon. And a lesser functionality version can be passed to the kids to play with. Everyone it seems, would be much more happier. Subscription is like your cable or cell. Its just that we are not used to it now. And with web-services this model seems even more easier to implement.



I just do not see the need to please anyone else

I was joking. You know... going public as in getting listed on an index like Nasdaq and so pleasing our shareholders. Maybe I should make more use of ';-)' in the future ;-)

Dude. That would not compile. Here's why..
1. class shareholderJoke extends nasdaqPatheticJoke {} --- missing
2. And the ;-) Annotation was missing too. (Yup.. I still do not know how to write Annotations!!)


And BTW, we do have a new member but he's been quiet. Hrishi's pal from IIT, Nikhil, is the latest codeWordian (too cheesy?). Let's have some posts dude.

Welcome aboard. This (as you might have realised) is the place for really bad jokes. Might get a bit of knowledge once a while.