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From: "John D'Errico" <woodchips@rochester.rr.com>
Newsgroups: comp.soft-sys.matlab
Subject: Re: Submission of p-code
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 02:42:02 +0000 (UTC)
Organization: John D'Errico (1-3LEW5R)
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"Paul Mennen" <nospam@mennen.org> wrote in message 
<fpvqe2$gti$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
> > There are really good arguments on both 
> > sides from both a philosophical and a tactical level.
> > Helen Chen
> 
> I haven't seen any good arguments on this thread or
> elsewhere on why p-code should be banned from the File
> Exchange. Doug makes some good points on why he doesn't want
> to use downloaded p-code but even he admits that such code
> may be beneficial to others in the Matlab community.

But I have not seen any good reason offered
on why one would insist on submitting a
p-coded file.

P-code goes against the open source basis
of the file exchange.


> The most appropriate format for the vast majority of the
> File Exchange files is certainly .m and most submissions
> would use that format regardless of whether .p code was
> allowed. For the few submissions where .p code is more
> appropriate, what is the harm in allowing it? Each user has
> the option of downloading it or not.

When is it ever appropriate? If you can't give it
away, then you should not be giving it away.
Sell your work if you wish. p-code is surely
appropriate there.
 
> If there isn't a good reason for the policy,

There is a very good reason. 

If p-code is accepted, then it won't be that
long before a p-coded file turns up with a
keylogger built in, or some other viral nasty.
Build it into some otherwise useful utility,
then silently steal the shirt off the back of
your unsuspecting user.

> > That said, it is our policy at MATLAB Central that all p-
> > code published must have the supporting m-files supplied. 

Something I entirely agree with.

John