Computer Program: code or codes?

[tree123]

On a Chinese-based IT forum, I saw someone said to the OP who posts a program "Can you share source code"?

I think that should be "Can you share source codes (of the program)" or "Can you share your source file". Am I correct?

 

[Tarheel]

On a Chinese-based IT forum, I saw that someone said to the OP who posted a program "Can you share source code"?

I think that should be "Can you share source codes (of the program)" or "Can you share your source file". Am I correct?

My suggestions.

 

[tedmc]

I think "source code" needs a definite article.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'm with tedmc. I'd expect "Can you share the source code?"

 

[SoothingDave]

Code is singular. Even if you had ten different modules or programs, one would still ask for the "code," not the "codes."

 

[teechar]

I don't know why Tarheel inserted the red "that" in post #2.

 

[NamelessKing]

No, Rover. I don't know why. Do you mind elaborating?

 

[Rover_KE]

For the same reason that teechar explained in this thread.

 

[Tdol]

Code is singular. Even if you had ten different modules or programs, one would still ask for the "code," not the "codes."

It can be plural in other contexts- the nuclear codes that will launch missiles, where separate passwords are required.

 

[jutfrank]

I think it's typical of short messages such as this that people tend to leave out articles.

There's also a strong possibility that the writer was a non-native speaker and that this was an error.

 

[bubbha]

Programming language text used to write computer programs is called "code". It is uncountable and singular.