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Comment by moocowtruck | Hacker News Reader

https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/search?q=gnu "This is the way it was implemented in GNU split." i dunno maybe there are cases where they copy more than behavior... but interesting to look through

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There are more examples, here is one:

  // a few global constants as used in the GNU implementation

It's pretty easy to ask someone "Hey, can you go take a look at GNU split and see how they handle this case?" and then implement your own clean-room solution afterwards.

Alternately, to solve the problem yourself and mention it to someone and have them say "that's how GNU split does it, so why not?"

Isn't that, by definition, not a clean-room solution?

‘Clean-room reverse engineering’ refers to the practice of having one person look at disassembled source code, spec sheets, actual behaviour, etc. of some program; describe that behaviour to a second person; and having the second person implement the described behaviour.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_wall#Reverse_engineeri...

Ah, that's interesting! I didn't know that was a sufficient insulation of IP.

yea seems pretty easy then right, sounds like no source that is available for eyes to see is safe from 'clean room reverse engineering'

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