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"I never publish my code. Ever. Users get to give me feedback, but I don't care what other programmers think. Sure, I learn from them, but never in the context
by cosgroveb 16y ago
"I never publish my code. Ever. Users get to give me feedback, but I don't care what other programmers think. Sure, I learn from them, but never in the context of reviewing the code I wrote. I learn from the code of others and apply those lessons to my own work."
You can, of course, do whatever you want but this seems awfully selfish... Essentially saying that you will take whatever others (foolishly?) give in open source, blog posts, etc., etc., but never give back. Am I reading this correctly?
- edw519 16y agoAm I reading this correctly? No. 1. Almost everything I ever wrote is proprietary. I couldn't legally share it if I wanted to. 2. I have never taken anyone else's code. In fact, I have rarely even ever read anyone else's code. To me, someone else's source code might as well be object code. "learning from them" means getting feedback without getting code. Others make suggestions. I write my code. 3. I prefer these analogies: You can eat in my dining room without going into my kitchen. You can enjoy my wardrobe without watching me get dressed. You can watch the movie or read the book without watching either being made. And you can provide feedback about any of them that can be accepted and used. My source code is private. My customer list is private. My address book is private. My current location is private. My personal schedule is private. You can, of course, share whatever private information you want, but calling my choices "awfully selfish" is myopic and misinformed.
- cosgroveb 16y agoThanks for that honest answer. You're right, calling your choices "awfully selfish" is perhaps going a bit too far.
- crocowhile 16y ago>I have never taken anyone else's code. This is REALLY hard to believe. Also, god bless the person who thought me to use other people's code.