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Re: [OCLUG-Tech] what are the "five myths about open source"?

  • Subject: Re: [OCLUG-Tech] what are the "five myths about open source"?
  • From: "Robert P. J. Day" <rpjday [ at ] crashcourse [ dot ] ca>
  • Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:33:33 -0400 (EDT)
On Tue, 28 Jun 2011, Shawn H Corey wrote:

> On 11-06-28 09:57 AM, Jean-Francois Messier wrote:
> > Actually, OpenSource is more secure, as if one does not trust a
> > compiled program, he/she can recompile from source, and perform a
> > full source code inspection, which cannot be performed on closed
> > programs. It took a lot of efforts for US government and then
> > other governments to get their hands on Windows source code,
> > invoking national security. Even then, what the consumer/user gets
> > is a closed program.
>
> The other complaint is that no-one has the time to look at the
> source, therefore security breaches will be missed.  But to
> paraphrase Linus, "Many eyes make all security breaches shallow."
> Someone will look at the source and if they find something, will
> inform the community.  In numbers lie security.

  see my last post.  i'm becoming increasingly convinced that simple
access to the entire current code base isn't *remotely* as important
as access to the entire version control log.  and that's what i think
i'll emphasize.

rday

-- 

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Robert P. J. Day                                 Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
                        http://crashcourse.ca

Twitter:                                       http://twitter.com/rpjday
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