Stop protecting source code like a hunched over prisoner hovering over his meal.

You know what I find hilarious? When someone posts a message needing help, and either: (1) is too afraid to post his source code because of (a) letting the cat out of the bag or (b) afraid of looking boneheaded; (2) tries to obfuscate his code but to the point where it just doesn't make logical sense. Sometimes, the direct route is the best way to get your problem solved fast.

>>is too afraid to post his source code
I doubt, therefore I might be. yeah I reckon they just don't want to look dumb or in other cases they just don't got any code to post. Slackers!

The best thing about posting you code is having other members look it over. There is always room for improvement.

I love posting code, only to have one of the more exprienced senior members to rewrite my seven lines of code into one. It's the only (and best) way to learn. That's the whole point of the forums isn't it?

I have to agree, who cares if someone takes a little of your code. I'd much rather have a bunch of eyes looking over my code and finding what I missed.

Particularly when it comes to security! I've learned so much in the past couple of months about securing code that I know some of my previously built sites are a ticking bomb!

hey i give credit to this board for the help its supplied me.. if i never posted code id still be asking how to echo form variables.. and get responses READ THE FAQ!!!

You can never take my code! NEVER!

/me runs down street naked, screaming

Strike, your Debian sig/tagline sounds more like a Depends adult undergarments commercial than a promo for a distro.

NO NO ... oh the horror!

Not only does posting your code enable other people to help you find an answer to your problem(s) and maybe shorten it (a bit), it also provides the boards with a massive bulk of examples, with many different styles and approaches, from which people can learn even more. You give a little, but you get a lot here!

When I first started coding a year or so ago, I was afraid to post my code at first. I didn't want people looking at it because I was afraid it was crap and they'd make fun of it.

Now, I just post all the crap I can, people make fun of it, and all is good!

Of course, once I did start posting code, people like Hero, Al, mrrichardfeder (who has apparently disappeared), rod, jdk, and others picked it apart and I learned a lot more. This was especially true once I moved into perl and starting posting in that forum. Now, I find myself regurgitating a lot of the information Hero Zzyzzx gave me a year ago:

HTML::Template, CGI::Application, Ovid's Tutorial, DBI, CPAN this, CPAN that....

.. it's all a process of learning from someone else, adding a little bit of your own info to that, and then passing the knowledge to another person who can repeat the process.. soooo..

SHOW US YOUR CODE, BABY!

haha, funny thing is that chances are that none of the people, who may apply to what you're talking about here, read this.

I post my code all the time, i'm not afraid to look like i dont' know sh**. Usually you can tell that by the question i ask =).

If i may quote socrates "Those who know they dont know, know the most"