I can only speak from experience but a former employer of mine insisted that most of the code I wrote (for win32, no compiling for the UN*X code) be compiled. I certainly wasn't ashamed of the code I wrote (in retrospect, maybe not ashamed, but I realize I've come quite a way). They knew that it wasn't perfect, but that didn't stop them from using obfuscators on their Java either. It's just a simple measure, like a lock on a door. As my father is fond of saying it's "to keep the honest people honest".

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I'm not belgian but I play one on TV.