Ad from 1985 - A saying about source code

3 years ago by TrivialBetaState to c/linux

I found this ad from Personal Computer World (UK) in 1985. I think we all like their moto! Has anyone heard of this company? They don't seem to be still around from an internet search I did. But people who worked there may have had an interesting career (hopefully!)

Deeyess20 72 points 3 years ago

I like it. Similarly, licensing closed source commercial software is much like leasing or renting. You rely on the vendor to do maintenance, fix issues, and provide support. SaaS is like staying at a hotel.

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TrivialBetaState 16 points 3 years ago

That's a fantastic description!

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KrokanteBamischijf 14 points 3 years ago

You can do both though. Lots of high-profile software is both open source and available as SaaS.

The beauty of that strategy is you can ensure the software will survive your service provider going bankrupt or otherwise suddenly disappearing, leaving you without a solution.

By not being locked into a specific vendor, competition will be centered around providing the best service, which is in my opinion exactly as it should be.

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Ramin_HAL9001 36 points 3 years ago

Applications without source code don't exist.

Oh, they meant, "you should have the source code to the applications you use." Well in that case, good call on them.

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erwan 23 points 3 years ago

Yes unfortunately they do.

In the 90's I wrote some Visual Basic applications, the only source code they had was isolated snippets to describe the buttons actions.

But most of the app was not based in source code but directly on a binary formal that VB could understand.

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flashgnash 28 points 3 years ago

That said people who use buildings typically don't have or need the blueprints to said buildings

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TrivialBetaState 3 points 3 years ago

This appears to be true on the surface but is not accurate. I am a structural engineer and when people need to do something with their buildings, the engineers (structural, mechanical, fire, etc.) and the architects need the plans or at least a survey. If a side has the plans and the authority on the plans, that side has huge leverage over the building. Fortunately, this is never the case with buildings. Plans are considered public information. It would be so much better if the same applied to software.

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flashgnash 2 points 3 years ago

Oh interesting I didn't know that that's pretty cool

Open source buildings

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mexicancartel 23 points 3 years ago

Today's EA is quiet opposite lol(Electronic Arts)

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Tolstoshev 8 points 3 years ago