Mark Napier (2000), interviewed by Andreas Broegger, ÔThe Aesthetics of ProgrammingÕ, in conjunction with the exhibition on/off, Copenhagen, http://www.afsnitp.dk/onoff/

In discussing the aesthetics of programming, a deep understanding of code is required.In very general terms, code that the programmer works with, is compiled or interpreted so the machine can execute it. Mark Napier explains that with much proprietary software like Flash the source code is hidden because the software complies the code into binary. Property rights are thus an issue:  
'In the software industry the code is very valuable since it contains the
knowledge, recipe or blueprint of how the software product is made. The
binary "executable" is distributed to the world, but the source code is
carefully guarded. As an artist I'm happy to share most of my source
code with other artists. [...] Whoever owns the source code in effect 'owns' the artwork.' (2000)