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Post by Skalle on Apr 20, 2016 14:40:45 GMT -6
Discuss.
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Post by bowtiev8 on Apr 21, 2016 12:18:08 GMT -6
Depends on the context and company who is making the software, but I do believe it should be avoided if possible. In today's world when everyone is after spying on you, you can't be careful enough. The only way to make sure there is no backdoors in the product you're using is to use open source so you can directly inspect the source code yourself.
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Post by Skalle on Apr 21, 2016 17:54:34 GMT -6
I'm really, really conflicted about it. I mean, we talk about freedom, right? But does freedom include the ability to choose software with restrictive licenses? After all, we're not being forced into it; if we choose to run non-free software, in most cases, it's because we want to. I think RMS talks about non-free software as a social ill in general, and that using it is to the detriment of society on the whole, but I really don't know if I agree with that. I'll be honest; on my laptop, I'm running Arch, not Parabola, because if I go full libre, my video and my wireless are going to be messed up. I don't think I have many, if any, other non-free packages on this machine. That's my choice. I'm not saying it's a good thing to run software without the source available -- that I do have a problem with -- but as RMS defines it, you can have open-source software and still be lacking freedom. I'm just hesitant to go 100% toward the FSF definition of freedom and completely eschew everything else, because I feel like it can be an imposition on a person instead of something that's liberating. I dunno. What do you think?
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Post by bowtiev8 on Apr 22, 2016 12:05:03 GMT -6
I think greedy companies are a problem. We're forced to use a lot of proprietary/non-free software because there is no other alternative. What frightens me the most about non-Libre software is, we have no control over the security of the software or if it has any backdoors.
Because of the society we live in, I think truly free open source (Libre) software is the only way we can be completely sure we have a secure system. Sadly, as we both have discovered, we don't always have the freedom to choose what we want.
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Post by Skalle on Apr 22, 2016 22:40:02 GMT -6
Unfortunately, most modern hardware has backdoors built in, regardless of software. I've heard that about most modern processors, for example. And I have also heard that certain modern processors do not run well under GNU/Linux, but that's a separate issue.
Maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel better about using non-free drivers. I really don't like it, but I simply do not have the money to buy a system that will allow me to use free drivers. I also have a really hard time explaining to people why they should use free software. The idea of freedom over convenience simply does not make sense to 99% of people I talk to -- actually, I think you're the lone exception. I have one friend who's into "open source," but that's not the same thing as "free software," which he could care less about. Ugh.
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Post by bowtiev8 on Apr 26, 2016 11:22:05 GMT -6
I hear you. In the same way, you're the only one I can talk to about Libre software/hardware. It's even hard to find anyone to talk to about open source software in general. I also believe the vast majory of backdoors in products today, are there because of the US government.
As an example, it's a known thing that Most Esteemed Gentlemen intercept Cisco gears being shipped to Cisco customers, but listening devices/backdoors in them, and the ship them to the customers with OEM Cisco packing tape and everything so you can't see someone else has opened it up.
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Post by Skalle on Apr 26, 2016 13:41:50 GMT -6
That doesn't surprise me at all. Then there's so-called Secure Boot; don't even get me started on that bull****... (There are no word filters for cuss words, but out of respect for you, I censored myself.  ) |
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Post by bowtiev8 on Apr 27, 2016 11:51:57 GMT -6
I appreciate you sensor yourself in this case.
Seems like you need more people like us to stand up for Libre open source (FOSS) products.
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Post by Skalle on Apr 27, 2016 22:14:05 GMT -6
I think you mean FLOSS, not FOSS. Also, I tried to explain the difference between free/libre software and freeware to Lauren today, and she didn't get it.  |
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Post by bowtiev8 on May 2, 2016 13:10:02 GMT -6
Yes, you're right. I mean FLOSS. I think the Digital Restrictions Management bug has infected Lauren severely. |
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Post by Skalle on May 2, 2016 14:20:03 GMT -6
Indeed. Also, the FSF anti-Digital Restrictions Management day is tomorrow.
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Post by bowtiev8 on May 3, 2016 11:33:53 GMT -6
Are you going to it?
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Post by Skalle on May 3, 2016 14:49:41 GMT -6
Nah. I hate Chicago.
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Post by bowtiev8 on May 5, 2016 11:23:44 GMT -6
It would have been worth it for such a good cause.
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Post by Skalle on May 5, 2016 15:28:31 GMT -6
I'd rather save my money to come celebrate your graduation (soon).
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Post by bowtiev8 on May 6, 2016 11:34:34 GMT -6
That's nice of you.  |
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Post by Skalle on May 6, 2016 14:00:31 GMT -6
A question I'm facing: what happens if I manage to get my education in computer science? Will I work for a company that produces proprietary software? Because I don't know if I'll have a choice...
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Post by bowtiev8 on May 11, 2016 11:51:13 GMT -6
I believe there a few companies that bases their business on FLOSS, but I guess they are almost impossible to find. I guess your best bet will be to find a business that is using a lot of FOSS, and then you can start to influence them from within to start using FLOSS.
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Post by Skalle on May 11, 2016 15:22:31 GMT -6
We'll see, I guess. I suppose I'm just going to take what I can get and work my way into something completely FLOSS.
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Post by bowtiev8 on May 12, 2016 11:54:34 GMT -6
Sounds like a good strategy.
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