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Code I cannot understand, I can ask for help with understanding. Code I cannot view, I cannot.

• krapp 8y ago
  That's true. But most people using free software can't simply ask for "help understanding" millions of lines code written in possibly multiple languages. Like a lot of the axioms of FOSS, the utility of that breaks down at the scale of modern software.
  • zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC 8y ago
    But for one that still doesn't mean that not being able to view the code is somehow better, as was claimed above, and which I objected to. At best that means that being able to view the code does not necessarily imply the quality of that code is better. Which really is just obvious. And also, that does not at all mean that the utility breaks down. Back in the day, it was normal for devices to come with schematics. Like, if you bought a TV, the schematic was included. Almost noone who owned a TV could read schematics. But the schematics were still useful to the owner, because those schematics were what enabled you to take your broken TV to any independent repair business of your choice and have them fix it at a competetive price. You can profit from the wide availability of knowledge without having to learn it all yourself. If there are ten competing car repair businesses in your city that all understand how to fix your car, that is better for you than the manufacturer having a monopoly on repairing your car, even if you don't have the slightest clue how your car works.