The Source Dilemma
Margo I. Seltzer
Harvard University
Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences
August 11, 1997
Outline
- Why we need source?
- Why Microsoft should want us to have
source.
- The obstacles.
Why We Need Source
- Collect data
- NT provides many good tools for data collection.
- Frequently impossible to correlate data collected from
different sources.
- Explain data
- One often make hypotheses based on measurement.
- Sometimes one can test hypotheses by further
measurement.
- Source code inspection often yields a quick and
conclusive explanation.
- Confirm proposed solutions
- Proposed fixes are "OK."
- Demonstrably successful fixes are significantly better.
Why Source Access is Good
- Universities are a source of
- good ideas
- interesting code
- bug fixes
- Students graduate well-versed in the
vendor systems.
- Research results are directly relevant to
the vendor.
- Vendors influence areas of research.
- Vendors enjoy a good, healthy reputation
around the Universities.
Obstacles
- Who signs a license?
- NDAs for students.
- What can they say/publish?
- Do we need to get approval before
submitting a paper?
- Liability.
- We are not liable if they steal.
- Export Act constraints.