[G4] learning to carbonize?

[Mel Krewall]

When you download a commercial program like OE, it is in a form called 
"object code". The programming language ("source code") used to write 
it (probably "C") has been "compiled" into a language the computer can 
understand. It is legal to download and use the program, but to modify 
it requires the source code.
Unless you have the source code, you cannot carbonize something. 
Companies like Microsoft protect their source code and you aren't 
allowed to modify or even see it. So, no, it is not legal to make OE 
run in OS X, even if you could come up with the source somehow. 
Carbonizing is not a trivial undertaking and certainly is not "a 
plugin". It requires knowledge of software engineering, developer tools 
and plenty of time to accomplish. Hope this answers your questions.
Mel

"Don't play too much golf. Two rounds a day are plenty."
  ~ Harry Vardon

On Apr 21, 2004, at 12:19 PM, Anand Keathley wrote:

>> I'm thinking specifically about apps "Outlook Express,"[...]
>
> Fuhgeddaboutit.
>
> First and foremost, OE is proprietary code belonging to a small company
> you might have heard about, called Microsoft. Modify it or use the code
> in any way, and you'll have ten packs of legal wolves howling for your
> blood -- with a cistern of piranhas lining up behind them.
>
> Second, "carbonizing" a major app like OE is a seriously non-trivial
> task. If you want to learn Carbon, that's not what you should start
> with.
>
> Third, free e-mail clients do exist. Mail.app is part of OS X; and if
> that's not good enough for you, try pine.
>
> f
>
> Thanks for the information and advice.  I use "Mail" myself and like 
> it just fine.  But others may not. Although Microsoft does own 
> Outlook, it is a free download to use on your computer.  Are you 
> saying that legally a person is not allowed to add something to it to 
> make it run properly?  Maybe, but that is just an example.
>
> Thanks again,
>                          Anand