A Level Computer Science OCR Practice Exam

Why might source code be kept private by a company?

1. To improve debugging processes

2. Due to the ease of copyright infringement

3. Because compilers are slow

4. To increase execution speed

The correct answer is: Due to the ease of copyright infringement

Keeping source code private is primarily motivated by concerns related to intellectual property protection and maintaining a competitive edge in the market. When a company keeps its source code confidential, it significantly reduces the risk of copyright infringement, as unauthorized copying or modification of the code cannot occur if others don’t have access to it. This practice helps secure the company’s innovations and proprietary algorithms, fostering an environment where they can develop and monetize their technology without the threat of imitation. The other options, while they may touch on aspects of software development, do not directly address the primary reasons for maintaining the confidentiality of source code. Debugging processes can be enhanced through effective practices and tools, and while execution speed can be a consideration in some contexts, it’s not a direct motive for keeping code private. Compilers' speed is a technical detail unrelated to source code confidentiality. Hence, the focus on copyright infringement is a crucial factor in the decision to maintain the privacy of source code.