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Stupid or evil?

Wed, 11/21/2012 - 11:24 — Bruno Lowagie

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read the following question on Stackoverflow.

Source code of iTextSharp
I am creating a tool to convert webpage data to PDF.
How do I convert the html code to pdf without using iTextSharp or any external refrences?? I am not allowed to add any other reference libraryreferences?
Can anybody provide itextsharp code?

This question is stupid for many reasons.

Reason #1: iTextSharp is an open source library. This means that the source can be found on a public site. For instance: on SourceForge. That's why I upvoted Jim Garrison's comment: Did you try Google?

Reason #2: the question basically says "I want to use iTextSharp without using iTextSharp." That's a contradiction. There's a saying "You can't make an omelet without breaking any eggs." It doesn't make sense to ask for iTextSharp code if you don't want to use iTextSharp.

Reason #3: the question was clarified: i just wanna use the code or concept of itextsharp. So now this guy is looking for accomplices to infringe the copyright of iTextSharp. He's encouraging people to help him commit copyright violations, or isn't he?

Eventually the question was edited:

It now reads:

Source code of iTextSharp
I am creating a tool to convert webpage data to PDF.
How do I convert the html code to pdf without using any external refrences?? I am not allowed to add any other references??

He's still mentioning iTextSharp, but I won't edit the title. I want the question closed and, if possible, removed. Being new at .NET isn't a reason to break the rules by stealing other people's ideas and code. The question remains stupid, because the guy makes it sounds as if writing an HTML to PDF converter from scratch is something you can do in only a couple of weeks.

We've invested good money in the development of XML Worker. It's bad enough hearing that many people don't want to reward us for that work and for those investments. I like competing, so I don't mind having competitors, but I can't stand people publicly announcing they want to copy our concepts.

Comments

Thu, 11/22/2012 - 13:28 — Bruno Lowagie

In the same category

This was just forwarded to me by our admin:

I am using ITextSharp as I am a C# developer and wanted to sign up to your forums to ask a question. When I went to activate my account, it started asking me for a question based on something from the book. I am not going to buy a book just to answer a question to register for your forums.
Either you activate my account regardless or forget it..."

That's not a very friendly remark, isn't it?

Whoever you are, you can get answers to pre-sales questions on the sales address. You may get a free answer on StackOverflow or on the mailing-list. We've invested a large amount of time and money in the development of iTextSharp. If you think you can use our work, and at the same time insult us, please think again ;-)

Wed, 11/21/2012 - 16:54 — Bruno Lowagie

Removed and promoted

Aha, I see that the question was removed, and by answering a couple of other questions I reached a 2000+ reputation which entitles me to change questions and answers without moderation. In other words: I'm a moderator now!