EXPLAIN: Primer on Programming.

Since so many GNU/Linux applications are distributed in source code format, perhaps a primer in programming is appropriate.

• Authors (sometimes referred to as vendors) write (almost) human readable code called ‘source code’.
• Source code is then compiled on a target platform and OS to make an executable file for that platform and OS.

Therefore, in order to make an application available for say, GNU/Linux, Windows, and Mac, a vendor has to tweak the source code and compile it for all three platforms. Many vendors don’t do this either because of money, technical limitations, and/or apathy. This is why so many applications are available for Windows only, or Macintosh only.

If the user were able to compile their own source code on their own machine (which, by definition is the desired target platform and OS) then the vendor is relieved of that problem. The result? The application can be run on any platform that can compile it. This is why most GNU/Linux applications are distributed as source code: so that as many people as possible can make use of the application.

Most commercial vendors won’t allow users to compile their own applications because that would require them to release their source code to the world which is akin to ‘giving away’ their application.