Per the “Extensive Use of Nonfree JavaScript” bit, avoiding “nonfree” software is getting more challenging in life beyond coding. It’s getting harder to feel it’s “wrong” when I see it in more places.
For example, my town is amazing and set up free, underground composting bins all over parks and neighborhoods and stuff. However, random people used them as trash cans if left unlocked. So they set up a program where you register with the town online and then can open the bins via bluetooth and smartphone app. But only a smartphone app. The only way to participate is to use a proprietary, nonfree app.
So when I read things like
users who refuse the JavaScript Trap find that any interaction beyond simply viewing repositories is impossible
in this article, I wonder what the general solution is. “Avoid Github” means not using it even though friends and colleagues are there. “Avoid $SMARTPHONE_APP” means not participating in my community’s environmental efforts. Neither of these seem “right”, even though free software seems “right”.
Beating the drum of avoiding nonfree software seems like it’s gotten less effective as software shows up more in real life. I would get more out of articles like this if they came with recommended alternatives. Not just “Use Source Hut or Codeberg” or whatever, but alternatives meaning how to participate differently within a societal mesh that otherwise doesn’t think about software freedom when locking compost bins.
Per the “Extensive Use of Nonfree JavaScript” bit, avoiding “nonfree” software is getting more challenging in life beyond coding. It’s getting harder to feel it’s “wrong” when I see it in more places.
For example, my town is amazing and set up free, underground composting bins all over parks and neighborhoods and stuff. However, random people used them as trash cans if left unlocked. So they set up a program where you register with the town online and then can open the bins via bluetooth and smartphone app. But only a smartphone app. The only way to participate is to use a proprietary, nonfree app.
So when I read things like
in this article, I wonder what the general solution is. “Avoid Github” means not using it even though friends and colleagues are there. “Avoid $SMARTPHONE_APP” means not participating in my community’s environmental efforts. Neither of these seem “right”, even though free software seems “right”.
Beating the drum of avoiding nonfree software seems like it’s gotten less effective as software shows up more in real life. I would get more out of articles like this if they came with recommended alternatives. Not just “Use Source Hut or Codeberg” or whatever, but alternatives meaning how to participate differently within a societal mesh that otherwise doesn’t think about software freedom when locking compost bins.
score 1 · canonical