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I’d argue it’s better to use actual alternatives. Half of the issue with free and open source software is that it’s userbase is too small. If more people used it, it could actually improve in many ways.
Lets take gaming on Linux as an example. The userbase on steam is somewhere around 5%. So there is almost no incentive for developers to make games that run nativly on Linux. Its actually easier to run the games in a compatibility layer then to get a Linux port of a game. And although wine and proton work incredibly well, sometimes even running a game better than on windows; a Linux native version of every game would be ideal. Which will never happen with such a small userbase.
Next you have the terrible business practices of these companies. Even if you use the pirated versions. You are in their ecosystem and their community. You increase their profitability and their stock price simply by continuing the industry standard.
Pirated versions of software like this is excusable if you need it for work or sometihing. But imagine if instead of staying with the status quo, you use and help improve actual free and open source alternatives. Versons of software that don’t steal your data or monetize how you use it by selling your input to others or stealing it for “AI” datasets.
Imagine using free and open source software that gives you feedom because your data stays on your devices, your creations belong to only yourself or who ypu choose to share it with, and you work with others to improve it; even if it’s by just submitting bug reports. Imagine using something like that which you find so altruisticly beneficial that instead of pirating the software that has no respect for you, you donate money to the devs of free and open source software. Yes, I’m a pirate. But I do donate money to the right causes and something that protects my freedom is worth both my time and my money.
This person fucks!!
If you mean by that “This person is right” I totally agree with you
Yes. Exactly like that.
I agree with everything, but want to add that 5% is actually a huge incentive and I’m very very optimistic about the future of linux gaming.
This is how we got these monopolies in the first place.
No, they are not free, they are gratis alternatives.
“Free software” is one term, and it’s meaning was defined in 1986 by RMS. Non of these software existed that time.
The word “free” in our name does not refer to price; it refers to freedom. First, the freedom to copy a program and redistribute it to your neighbors, so that they can use it as well as you. Second,** the freedom to change a program, so that you can control it instead of it controlling you; for this, the source code must be made available to you.**
You’re acting like he invented the word “free”.
He doesn’t get to hijack and redefine it, and his redefinition is not any kind of objective reality.
You’re right, the first amendment wasn’t about freedom of expression, it was about not having to pay for books.
Using the word free to describe something that doesn’t restrict you has been a thing for centuries. “Free Software” has been the accepted term within the software world to denote freedom respecting, libre, and open source software since the 80’s.
This isn’t about because Richard Stallman said so. Its because its the definition pretty much everyone, especially those who’ve actually touched a compiler, uses.
Trying to remove an objectively correct definition is more “redefining” a word than adding one is.
You’d maybe have a point if this was made up today, or even 10 years ago, but this was settled during the early years of the industry. Free software is free as in freedom, freeware is gratis but not free.
This is established industry jargon, and has been for over two fucking decades. Not really sure why its being argued.
There is no one with the authority to make that determination.
“Free” as in “no fee” has been heavily used the entire time people have tried to steal the definition to only apply to license terms, it has always been objectively correct, and it is literally impossible for it to ever not be objectively correct.
it is literally impossible for it to ever not be objectively correct
And yet here you are, using “literally” to mean “figuratively.” Excuse me for not accepting your linguistic authority on the immutability of other words.
As a german speaking person: Shut up and stop using german translations of words as if it has a different meaning. It gives me Angst.
(Edit: explanation down in the comments, I am aware that “gratis” isn’t exclusively german)
Ich kann nicht sprachen deutch sehr gut. wdym, what is the original german meaning?
gratis means free, but only in the sense that it dosen‘t cost money. So it seems like a valid use for the word.
Is there an english equivalent?
Gratis and libre used usually to differenciate the terms: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratis_versus_libre
Both of them are latin words so I expect they show up in similar forms in most European languages. Free is a Germanic origin word.
In Hungarian we use the word Gratis as well with Hungarian spelling: “Grátisz” even though Hungarian is not an Indo-European language. Libre is not used in common speech here.
I don’t get what @Freeman@lemmings.world wanted to say
I find it very confusing when german words are used to mean something different that their english counterparts.
So in english: free ≠ gratis ≠ libre fear ≠ Angst car ≈ Auto (i heard it used for a car with a automatic transmission and also a few years ago as a term for a selfdriving car)
But also the other way around In Swiss-German: Bus ≠ Car (First one being a trolleybus in a city, second one a bus that takes a schoolclass on a trip.)
I am aware that words like “gratis” or “auto” are not exclusive to german, I guess that gave me the downvotes.
No, you got downvoted because you were insulting and incorrect.
Zorin OS, Gimp, and the last one looks like Blender or DaVinci software.
Gimp is terrible. The UX is bad, the whole project just seems like an afterthought
free* as in beer, not as in speech. we still don’t really own it.
Just take it and move to another start system.
And learn assembly
