[DennisP]

It's software, not really comparable to an English-language contract. Most software is much bigger than that.

Five pages is an outside estimate, for something like a currency exchange. My crowdfunding contract is about two pages, and the vault is one.

[dragonwriter]

> It's software, not really comparable to an English-language contract.

If the point is to be an alternative to normal, "dumb" contracts, than that is exactly what it needs to be comparable to.

[sandworm101]

He is correct in stating that it is code v. english, apples v. oranges. But I was under the impression that the whole point of using code was to explain something in more concrete and definitive terms. If doing so takes more words, more abstract word, with more oppertunity for bugs and loopholes, then what is the point?

[DennisP]

Smart contracts are not an alternative for things like employment, NDAs, and IP transfer. But how long would your contract be if you were setting up a currency exchange?

And how much software would you have to write in addition to that? On Ethereum the back-end software and the "contract" are the same thing, since the software enforces the terms.

[aminok]

Natural languages like English imply much more through context, and trade precision for succinctness. This is less true for legalese but still the case. Computer programs need to be explicitly defined and precise because there is no intelligent interpretation.