Todd Walton wrote:
On 10/9/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Well...everyone [trusts their data to someone else] to some
degree. Especially if you use closed source software.
As far as I'm concerned, open source software just gives me more
people that I'm trusting. I don't think I've ever audited a piece of
software to ensure that it's doing the right thing.
-todd
I don't see how that follows.
Given that you don't audit either application, and that App P is closed
source with seven contributing developers while App O is open source
with seven contributing developers, how do you figure that App O gives
you more (or fewer) people to trust?
With source code available, you at least have a list of contributors[1];
with the closed source app you have no idea of either the number or
identity of its contributors.
With the App_O you don't *need* to trust anyone - you can look a the
source code yourself (or commission an audit). With App_P you can trust
neither the source nor its contributors.
Now if you're talking about faith (that which stands as a placeholder
for knowing), that's a different matter.
[1] The obvious qualification notwithstanding.
--
Best Regards,
~DJA.
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