Source Code

Source code is the text of a computer program as programmers write it, in a language such as C++, Rust or Solidity, before it is turned into the machine instructions a computer runs. A compiler or interpreter performs that translation. Source code is usually kept in a version-controlled code repository, which records every change and who made it. Companies often keep their code private as a trade secret, while open source projects publish it so anyone can read, copy or improve it under a licence. Openness is central to public blockchains: Bitcoin's and Ethereum's code can be inspected by anyone, and users are often told to trust a protocol only after its source code has been published and reviewed in a smart contract audit. Publishing code does not guarantee safety, since bugs can survive public review for years.