Source code is any collection of computer instructions (possibly with comments) written using some human-readable computer language, usually as text.
6
votes
1answer
241 views
Updating Copyright Headers each new Year just because Jan 1st has passed?
I've seen some projects that - with each new year - start to change all files in their source-tree to update the copyright year.
Isn't this just pushing hot air on a level of magnitude? AFAIK:
...
-5
votes
0answers
160 views
I don't know what to code. [closed]
I am experimented in C and Python, and currently learning Scheme, but my problem comes when I want to start coding something big or special. I dont know what to code. I have implemented algorithms and ...
0
votes
0answers
8 views
Can SaaS, PaaS, IaaS be patented? [migrated]
Please note: here I'm talking strictly about US Patents.
I tried reading up on software and patents and still am not quite "getting" how the two are related, and when a software system can be ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
What is a good license for community submissions to commercial partially closed source software?
I am maintaining a small code base that I am considering selling– but I want to allow developers that use it to submit code for addition to the trunk. This way they can extend the framework and the ...
1
vote
2answers
235 views
Prevent code from getting mess [duplicate]
I am a student and a freelance programmer. These days I am developing a software in VB6 which has recently crossed 100KB of source code.
The main problem, I face is, many times I have to refactor my ...
2
votes
2answers
322 views
Source control system for binary files
At work we have a legacy system written in Visual FoxPRO.
Everything in foxpro is a table, even forms, so basically if you open a form file with a text editor you don't learn much.
Does anyone know ...
4
votes
2answers
291 views
Is there a name for being able to quickly find the relevant code?
I notice that a property of codebases that I like hacking on is that it's quick to find the relevant code for some feature, without knowing much about the code base at all. For example, searching for ...
0
votes
1answer
80 views
Licensing: source code vs. production code in JavaScript
For commercial and licensing purposes, what is the correct wording for differentiating JavaScript source code (written by the programmer and including comments) from the minified version used in ...
0
votes
1answer
157 views
Big project with many external libraries - source code organisation
I was wondering what is the best way to organize my source code. I was researching on SO and found http://stackoverflow.com/a/1398594/137261 but this source code layout is library specific and doesn't ...
39
votes
11answers
2k views
Are there any reasons not to accept a software deliverable as a virtual machine?
This is a question about logistics, not a technical question.
My company has outsourced some embedded software work. Specifically, we have payed a contractor to develop an embedded system for us ...
0
votes
1answer
583 views
C++ IDE and tools with Clang integration [closed]
Recently I've read this blog about Google integrating Clang parser into their code analysis tools
This is something in which C++ is at least a decade behind other languages like Java, but now that ...
5
votes
3answers
214 views
How can I become better on explaining the code to other developers? [closed]
While the question itself might sounds silly, the answer is quite important to me,
as I feel that issue is negatively affecting my work performance.
A bit of the background here: I am a seasoned ...
-4
votes
1answer
228 views
Where should I sell my software's source code? [closed]
I started a project about 4 years ago. It's been a while so I'm not exactly sure what should I do with it.
I made a piece of software with self-made algorithms – have a whole note with handscript for ...
0
votes
3answers
331 views
Developers taking code home - how bad is it? [duplicate]
I have an idea that if I have programmers under me that it would be better if the company give each of them a [good] laptop on which they can develop conveniently and allow them to take their machine ...
4
votes
3answers
175 views
Customer ask firmware source file
Recently my company was asked by a customer to develop a control board that includes firmware and PCB layout development. After finishing development the customer will buy the control boards at ...
7
votes
3answers
389 views
How can I present some printed Visual Basic source code in an aesthetically pleasing manner?
Right now I'm interning at a major engineering company. I'll be leaving in a few months though, so my project manager has requested a print out of my source code for a VBA project I've been working ...
-1
votes
3answers
770 views
Study Doom 3 Source Code [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How do you dive into large code bases?
I want to study the source code of a large project (for example, the Doom 3 source code) and I would like some help determining ...
19
votes
7answers
927 views
In a legacy codebase, how do I quickly find out what is being used and what isn't?
I've been asked to evaluate what appears to be a substantial legacy codebase, as a precursor to taking a contract maintaining that codebase.
This isn't the first time I've been in this situation. In ...
6
votes
3answers
162 views
How to refer to specific areas of code in documentation?
I'm about to leave a project, and before I go my boss has asked for me to document code (I've not documented very well). It's not a big deal, the project is not terribly complex. But I'm finding ...
4
votes
5answers
452 views
View Source - is the Viewable markup important to you?
I just read a very compelling blog post from Scott Hanselman where he quoted colleague Erik Meijer as follows:
JavaScript is an assembly language. The JavaScript + HTML generate is like a .NET ...
10
votes
2answers
205 views
What tools or techniques are useful for describing an unfamiliar codebase?
When manually inspecting unfamiliar code (to review or modify), I seem to have three options.
A top-down read of the code, choosing each next source file by how fundamental the filename seems. I ...
9
votes
7answers
1k views
Freelancing - Share the source code? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Hand over source code to customer
I have developed a couple of form based windows application in vb.net for a client and they all work well and he paid me through a ...
1
vote
3answers
287 views
Is there any open source code analyzer for java which I can adopt my software metrics algorithm on it? [closed]
I am doing my masters dissertation and I have conducted a software metrics. I need to adopt my metrics on an open source tool. I have found PMD and check style on sourceforge.net but there is not ...
6
votes
3answers
393 views
Does studying other people's programs help in self growth?
Should I be studying big softwares written by other people in our company? My work may be a small sub module on the top of that software, and I may not be required to know what goes beneath the hood, ...
0
votes
2answers
353 views
Who owns the IP rights of the software without written employment contract? Employer or employee? [closed]
I am a software engineer who got an idea, and developed alone an integrated ERP software solution over the past 2 years. I got the idea and coded much of the software in my personal time, utilizing my ...
53
votes
14answers
6k views
How to prevent code from leaking outside work? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to manage a Closed Source High-Risk Project?
I'm working on an institution that has a really strong sense of "possession" - each line of software we write should be ...
4
votes
1answer
212 views
Distinguishing repetitive code with the same implementation
Given this sample code
import java.util.ArrayList;
import blackjack.model.items.Card;
public class BlackJackPlayer extends Player {
private double bet;
private Hand hand01 = new Hand();
...
11
votes
5answers
8k views
How to understand Linux kernel source code for a beginner?
I am a student interested in working on Memory Management, particularly the page replacement component of the linux kernel.
What are the different guides that can help me to begin understanding the ...
3
votes
3answers
186 views
Code bases for desktop and mobile versions of the same app
I have written a small Java Swing desktop application. It seems like a natural step to port it to Android since I am interested in learning how to program for that platform. I believe that I can reuse ...
29
votes
6answers
2k views
Where do you go to read good examples of source code? [closed]
I have heard a few people say that one of the best ways to improve your coding ability is to read others code and understand it. My question, as a relatively new programmer, where do I go to find ...
20
votes
9answers
1k views
How should I go about learning a very large and complex application?
Being a young and fairly inexperienced developer recently employed by a "real" software company I'd like some opinions and pointers on how to do the following:
Approaches on how to get familiar with ...
2
votes
3answers
470 views
How much more should I charge for freelance project source code?
Currently I'm working as a freelancer, and for the first time a faced a client who wants the source code too.
This client owns a software development company, and wants to have rights over the source ...
80
votes
29answers
17k views
Can my company give IP rights away for an application I wrote off hours to another startup? [closed]
I am an intern for a health company (unpaid), let's call it Company A and I noticed that they are using a lot of paper form for things that can be done on the computer. Excel files for things that ...
21
votes
26answers
1k views
Should developers be forced to check-in before leaving work each day, even if the code does not compile?
During a previous consulting position, the developers where told to check-in code on a nightly basis, regardless if it complied or was complete. Managers were afraid of losing any code and said now we ...
5
votes
1answer
277 views
Does custom created code for a client imply copyright ownership?
I know of a potential customer that has been paying for website development work on an hourly basis for several years by several independent contractors, but has never signed an agreement as to terms ...
1
vote
2answers
232 views
What do I need to know about writing a liability warranty disclaimer when selling source code? [closed]
I have just put together a simple website for a friend who is setting up his company. He wants to pay me for this because he wants "a professional job". It would cost me more to go to a lawyer than ...
8
votes
7answers
867 views
recommend C# source code for reading [closed]
I'm a C# programmer and I'm interested in reading well written C# code. I've read somewhere that reading good code is like reading a good book (and educational too!).
My interests:
Game programming
...
3
votes
5answers
340 views
Practices for navigating and changing “long” code files?
Many a times I have to deal with code files which are quite long - about 5 screen pages at the minimum. Almost always there is something towards the top/bottom that I need to refer when I'm at the ...
50
votes
7answers
3k views
Is there something wrong with how we're doing version control?
I work with a team of programmers as the business analyst. We just released version 2.0 of our product and are working on the next version to be released in 3 months (it's an internal software ...
9
votes
6answers
898 views
What to do with bad source code? [duplicate]
I have been contracted to modify an application for a software company and the source code is quite frankly, a mess. It's not commented much and the author is inconsistent with coding conventions. The ...
2
votes
1answer
518 views
What source code organization approach helps improve modularity and API/Implementation separation?
Few languages are as restrictive as Java with file naming standards and project structure. In that language, the file name must match the public class declared in the file, and the file must live in ...
2
votes
5answers
372 views
SVN - Is it OK to use any flavor of SVN amongst the team?
Is it OK if, within a team, developers use different flavors of SVN? Say one using Tortoise SVN and other using Versionsapp.com SVN?
5
votes
4answers
321 views
What can I gain from examining others code?
I recently downloaded some large code bases and have had light reads through them, but what can I gain from this?
How can I be sure what the author is doing is the right way to go about things?
(One ...
3
votes
4answers
743 views
source code check in / validation best practices
I am looking for best practices that big organizations follow for code check-in and validations.
Currently we follow these steps,
- Developer writes code
- Developer do some initial tests
- Code is ...
162
votes
22answers
24k views
Should you keep a copy of all the code you write?
I know the company you work for owns the code and obviously you will get arrested if you try to sell it. But is it uncommon for developers to keep a personal copy of the code they wrote (for future ...
51
votes
9answers
3k views
Is committing/checking in code everyday a good practice?
I've been reading Martin Fowler's note on Continuous Integration and he lists as a must "Everyone Commits To the Mainline Every Day".
I do not like to commit code unless the section I'm working on ...
3
votes
3answers
315 views
Who owns the code, who owns the algorithm, who owns the idea?
This question got me thinking what products of the programming effort belong to the employer, and what don't.
The two extremes are (0) the code - it apparently belongs to the employer and (1) the ...
12
votes
5answers
2k views
How do I understand an open source project code?
I open the source code and it's folder upon folder of infinite files each with infinite lines of code which doesn't make much sense to me because I dont have the context, and half of it uses functions ...
3
votes
1answer
187 views
Create Tickets From TODO (or otherwise annotated) comments
Is there any software that will allow me to generate trouble tickets (for Trac, Team Foundation Server, etc.) from TODO or otherwise annotated comments in the source code?
2
votes
2answers
410 views
Should my source code be in UTF-8?
I feel that often you don't really choose what format your code is in. I mean most of my tools in the past have decided for me. Or I haven't really even thought about it. I was using TextPad on ...
