If Looks Could Kill (vintagecomputerstories.blogspot.com)

Article summary

The article shares a story about an interaction between Bill Gates and the author, Leonard Tramiel, at a computer trade show, where Gates attempted to trigger an Easter egg in Microsoft BASIC on a PET computer, but it had been removed. The Easter egg was a special code that would print the name of Gates' company on the screen. The author recounts how Gates reacted when the Easter egg did not work as expected. The story highlights the history of Easter eggs in software and their potential impact on users.

Main themes

• Easter eggs in software
• Security risks and vulnerabilities
• Intellectual property law
• Computer culture and history
• Software development and design
• Copyright and trademark law

What commenters say

• Easter eggs can be a fun and harmless addition to software, but they can also pose security risks if not properly implemented.
• The inclusion of Easter eggs in critical software like curl is a bad idea due to potential security vulnerabilities.
• Some argue that Easter eggs are a valuable part of computer culture and should be tolerated, while others believe they have no place in professional software.
• The use of copyright and trademark law to prevent access to software and hardware is a controversial topic, with some arguing it is an abuse of intellectual property rights.
• The DMCA has changed the landscape of software development and intellectual property law, making it more difficult for developers to create compatible software without violating copyright or trademark law.
• The concept of Easter eggs raises questions about the balance between creativity and security in software development.
• Some developers believe that Easter eggs can be a valuable way to add personality and whimsy to software, while others see them as a distraction from more important issues like security and stability.