Source code vs machine code: Source code is the sequence of statements / operations written in a human-readable computer programming language that determines the functionality of software written by software coders. Some programming languages that you could be aware of are Python and JavaScript. Source code is compiled into native machine code which is readable by machine, and unless not available to the average human to know how the software was designed, to change the operation (or update, fix, etc.) of the software, and reverse-engineer.
Disaster Recovery strategy: Software developers or owners would license and install mission-critical applications and software which are typically highly customized to the operation of their customers’ businesses. A sound source code escrow strategy is fundamentally a disaster recovery strategy. As development costs are high, redevelopment is time consuming, and because the application is mission-critical, software development and maintenance contracts are frequently accompanied by the source code escrow arrangement. Such arrangements require the software developer or owner to store the source code of their software with a Source Code Escrow Agent.
Fixes, updates, revisions and improvements are only possible when the source code is available to a user, especially when software is built from ground-up or customized from commercially available or open-source software. With the source code and documentation in the possession of the Source Code Escrow Agent or a Source Code Escrow Services Provider, such source code materials are released upon the occurrence of a “release event” such as the software developer or owner filing bankruptcy or defaulting specified obligations under the license. This would allow the customer to maintain, fix, update, revise or improve their software without the original developer being involved. Wherever the geographical location of the disaster recovery strategy, Flint & Battery can complement this with a source code escrow deployment in Singapore.
Transaction Security: In an alternative deployment, source code escrow can be used in the same way a bank takes possession of land title deeds as security to a loan.
Deploying Source Code Escrow: Enterprise software requires maintenance. Source Code Escrow is essential and a necessary part of a maintenance transaction because
- the customer has no assurance that the software developer will always be around to perform software maintenance – the developer may become bankrupt, or be acquired by another entity,
- disaster recovery strategy mandates that the abovementioned assumption should never be made, and
- maintenance cannot be performed without source code and documentation.
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