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Stated reasons for this program don't make sense.
From the article:
Its stated goals include allowing government IT workers to conduct more thorough security audits and to build custom applications on top of Microsoft products.

What kind of "security audit" are they talking about? Do governments have people on staff so sophisticated they can often look at a section of the source code and see things Microsoft's staff could not?
And, more strangely, has anyone ever argued that it is impossible "to build custom applications on top of Microsoft products" until Microsoft offers access to the source code?


The article takes a second shot at providing a reason:
Besides security, specific concerns surrounding Office include better understanding of its file formats to allow interoperability with other document applications. Governments also have substantial concerns about archiving and ensuring long-term access to documents, Matusow said.

Does this mean that governments are concerned that Microsoft will someday say, "You shall never open a .doc again."?
Are they going to suggest changes to Office to improve "interoperability with other document applications"? Are they expecting Microsoft to accept them?


Does any of that make sense to you?
Any speculation about what looking at the source code is actually doing for these governments?
Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 09/20/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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I'm first!  Confused by religion | 09/19/04
Excuses Excuses  nucrash | 09/20/04
No computer at home?  Anton Philidor | 09/20/04
I have several at home...  Confused by religion | 09/20/04
When life loses its meaning and purpose  Anton Philidor | 09/20/04
Drip... drip... drip...  Linux User 147560 | 09/19/04
Useless without the ability to reproduce from the buildchain  David Mohring | 09/20/04
ANd yet, so many governments disagree with you.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/20/04
hmm yes of course  crocd | 09/20/04
And yet, the governments of 60 countries wanted to do security audits.  B.O.F.H. | 09/20/04
I want to as well  crocd | 09/20/04
So your point is this is a good thing. I agree.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/20/04
Depends if you can change it  crocd | 09/20/04
No you can't change it, that's what open source is for.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/20/04
That is not why they are showing the code!  B.O.F.H. | 09/20/04
True. So why do they want to see the code?  Anton Philidor | 09/20/04
BOFH, a question for you.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/20/04
You don't like that someone actually read the article and smacked you?  B.O.F.H. | 09/20/04
Unless they can compile it, MS shared source is a sham!  Xunil_Sierutuf | 09/20/04
Stated reasons for this program don't make sense.  Anton Philidor | 09/20/04
Also  michael-t | 09/20/04
ms office code? Only?  michael-t | 09/20/04
Umm, already done.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/20/04
This could be only the latest in a loss of faith in Microsoft.  B.O.F.H. | 09/20/04

What do you think?

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