How free is "free" for cops and robbers?
I have proposed that we shouldn't use nonfree languages to compete in cops-and-robbers challenges, but this proposal needs some demarcation.
Matlab, Stata, LabVIEW all have finite free trials. Batch and AppleScript can only be used on Windows and Mac OS, and it's illegal to emulate TI-BASIC even though it's so easy.
Where do we draw the line of freedom? The point isn't to make a naive one-size-fits-all ruleset but we should have some pillars to stand on. Post one suggestion for each answer so that the suggestions can be voted on individually.
Languages with free online int …
3y ago
Free access must not be finite …
3y ago
Free as in usable on a free pl …
3y ago
Platform specific languages ar …
3y ago
4 answers
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Free access must not be finite
There has to be a time-unlimited, free way to run the language in question.
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Languages with free online interpreters are free
This includes all languages currently on tio.run, for example.
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Free as in usable on a free platform
"free" meaning there must be a downloadable interpreter available for the language which can run the program with the required features, on an online/offline service with no software limitations(time, number of executions, etc).
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Platform specific languages are free if there is a free implementation on another platform (or of the platform which the lang is native to)
Although Batch is exclusive to Windows, Windows can be put on a VM easily. Same thing for AppleScript and MacOS.
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