Re: st: RE: saving local macros

[Marcello Pagano <pagano@hsph.harvard.edu>]

This is a recurring question that amazes me in its non-symmetry.  
Harvard University is providing this service for free, namely 
Statalist.  We don't trumpet it; this is probably the first time I have 
mentioned it on the list. We feel it is a communal good, as must do all 
other contributors to this list who give of their time freely.  Most 
people don't recognize our contribution and thus never thank anyone for 
it.  We don't ask for thanks.  But it is a slap in the face when we see 
sentiments like "everyone works for someone", the implication being what 
exactly?

A bunch of us feel that Statalist has been of service in its present 
incarnation where everything is free. I think we should continue to 
respect openness and freely available sharing of knowledge.

m.p.




On 1/7/2009 12:33 PM, Ashim Kapoor wrote:
> Hi Nick,
>
> I don't think I was clear. Here is what I do :
> 1. Run sometests and produce local macros and a small output dataset.
> 2. Use the macros and dataset to print the output.
>
> so (2) is ALL I want any1 to see. I am not worried about encrypting
> the local macros, only that I can't let anyone else see the do file i
> am running to produce my macro.
>
> Is'nt is much easier to save the macros / save the dataset and send it
> to someone to see the output whethere in HTML or smcl.
> Why risk someone decrypting my file ?
>
> It's not even my IDEA, I just program it but I don't think my boss
> will like it if i put it on the internet.
>
> Is'nt everyone who comes to this list  working for a company or a
> university ? Would'nt their university be really upset if they gave
> out their bosses unpublished work on the internet and fire them on the
> spot ? Do those people pay for these services  ? Oh, A small number of
> times I have answered questions, should I expect to be paid for that ?
>
> Thank you,
> Ashim.
>
> On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 10:48 PM, Nick Cox <n.j.cox@durham.ac.uk> wrote:
>   
> > Sorry, Ashim, but I really don't understand your comments here.
> >
> > First off, local macros are useless unless used in some code. Whether
> > that use is interactive, via a do file, or via a program is up to you.
> >
> > If you want to be absolutely sure that certain collaborators, and only
> > those collaborators, see that code, then you need to send it encrypted.
> > That would apply to a do file or a program, and does not _itself_ rule
> > out do files.
> >
> > Second, saving macros in the data file runs into the same issues. You
> > would need to encrypt that too, as any Stata user with the same version
> > could in principle read your data file too.
> >
> > In short, wanting absolute security seems to me orthogonal to all other
> > details here.
> >
> > For myself, I always remember what Howard Aiken said. Don't worry about
> > people stealing your ideas; if they're any good, you will have to ram
> > them down their throats.
> >
> > Nick
> > n.j.cox@durham.ac.uk
> >
> > P.S. If you are developing proprietary code, why do you expect free
> > help? Shouldn't you offer to pay us?
> >
> > Ashim Kapoor
> >
> > Well in my opinion the do file won't do. Simply because the 1st half
> > of my code is proprietary, I dont wnat any1 to see it. I do wnat them
> > to USE the local macros / dataset at the end of the 1st half. Maybe I
> > am more clear now.
> >
> >     
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