5 ms·

A problem with the domain name is that to mean OS means operating system. Also, hardcore free software folks hate using the term "open-source" for their free co

A problem with the domain name is that to mean OS means operating system. Also, hardcore free software folks hate using the term "open-source" for their free code. But, I hope it does well and will keep an eye on it.

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
mattlutze 11y ago
When I first noticed the headline on the HN wall, I thought it was a show-and-tell for new smart watch software. OP, for some reason I'm getting verification errors when trying to load the site. My office has some rather aggressive firewall policies, but I might look at the SSL cert.
- yaworsk 11y ago
  For what it's worth, I had the same first impression...
- d99kris 11y ago
  If you don't mind sharing the error you encountered (screenshot?) feel free to drop me an email - address in my profile. I just got the SSL via Namecheap a few days back, I haven't had issues with them before, but I'm by no means an expert on certs, and may have set up something wrongly.
  - mattlutze 11y ago
    Glad to! Sent you an email.
  - h4waii 11y ago
    There's nothing wrong with the SSL certificates, except for the fact that it's a 'news' site for open source and not using Let's Encrypt -- and this is by no means a criticism, just something to consider.
- thomnottom 11y ago
  I thought it was about ostriches. So I should probably finish my coffee...
d99kris 11y ago
Thanks for the feedback! It looks like the name was not optimally chosen based on the feedback in this thread, so I may need to address that. If the site or FB/twitter-feeds gains more regular users than myself I'll definitely look into it.
- jordigh 11y ago
  I like "foss". It's almost universally understood to refer to free software and open source. These two are really the same thing, but just like "cease and desist" or "terms and conditions", a little redundancy doesn't hurt to get the point across.
  - ddoolin 11y ago
    Yes! FOSSwatch seems to ring really nicely to me as well.
    - d99kris 11y ago
      OK thanks for the suggestion - I've gone ahead and registered FOSSwatch.com. Will likely switch, but maybe not tonight.
  - cnr 11y ago
    Some folks like also "FLOSS" term
    - JoshTriplett 11y ago
      True, but it's unfortunately a lot less widely recognized.
ausjke 11y ago
osswatch is indeed a better name, OS is like the default name for operating system. the font is too small under that background color for my taste, maybe I'm too used to hacknews's settings these days.
- d99kris 11y ago
  Thanks for the feedback! Will look into font size, and the name will be reconsidered as well.
listic 11y ago
...and "watch" means a wearable device for keeping track of time.
- morganvachon 11y ago
  https://distrowatch.com https://distrowatch.com has been around for a very long time and there's no confusion at all. Ditto marketwatch.com, and probably a host of other sites where "watch" in the name refers to "watching" or following something. I think you're just consciously choosing to be pedantic here.
robin_reala 11y ago
I think years of reading http://www.osnews.com/ http://www.osnews.com/ have lodged OS = operating system into my head too.
frik 11y ago
Exactly: OSS = Open Source Software FOSS = Free Open Source Software OS = Operating System
- SpaceCadetJones 11y ago
  What's the difference between OSS and FOSS?
  - frik 11y ago
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

mattlutze 11y ago

When I first noticed the headline on the HN wall, I thought it was a show-and-tell for new smart watch software. OP, for some reason I'm getting verification errors when trying to load the site. My office has some rather aggressive firewall policies, but I might look at the SSL cert.

yaworsk 11y ago
For what it's worth, I had the same first impression...
d99kris 11y ago
If you don't mind sharing the error you encountered (screenshot?) feel free to drop me an email - address in my profile. I just got the SSL via Namecheap a few days back, I haven't had issues with them before, but I'm by no means an expert on certs, and may have set up something wrongly.
- mattlutze 11y ago
  Glad to! Sent you an email.
- h4waii 11y ago
  There's nothing wrong with the SSL certificates, except for the fact that it's a 'news' site for open source and not using Let's Encrypt -- and this is by no means a criticism, just something to consider.
thomnottom 11y ago
I thought it was about ostriches. So I should probably finish my coffee...

d99kris 11y ago

Thanks for the feedback! It looks like the name was not optimally chosen based on the feedback in this thread, so I may need to address that. If the site or FB/twitter-feeds gains more regular users than myself I'll definitely look into it.

jordigh 11y ago
I like "foss". It's almost universally understood to refer to free software and open source. These two are really the same thing, but just like "cease and desist" or "terms and conditions", a little redundancy doesn't hurt to get the point across.
- ddoolin 11y ago
  Yes! FOSSwatch seems to ring really nicely to me as well.
  - d99kris 11y ago
    OK thanks for the suggestion - I've gone ahead and registered FOSSwatch.com. Will likely switch, but maybe not tonight.
- cnr 11y ago
  Some folks like also "FLOSS" term
  - JoshTriplett 11y ago
    True, but it's unfortunately a lot less widely recognized.

ausjke 11y ago

osswatch is indeed a better name, OS is like the default name for operating system. the font is too small under that background color for my taste, maybe I'm too used to hacknews's settings these days.

d99kris 11y ago
Thanks for the feedback! Will look into font size, and the name will be reconsidered as well.

listic 11y ago

...and "watch" means a wearable device for keeping track of time.

morganvachon 11y ago
https://distrowatch.com https://distrowatch.com has been around for a very long time and there's no confusion at all. Ditto marketwatch.com, and probably a host of other sites where "watch" in the name refers to "watching" or following something. I think you're just consciously choosing to be pedantic here.

robin_reala 11y ago

I think years of reading http://www.osnews.com/ http://www.osnews.com/ have lodged OS = operating system into my head too.

frik 11y ago

Exactly: OSS = Open Source Software FOSS = Free Open Source Software OS = Operating System

SpaceCadetJones 11y ago
What's the difference between OSS and FOSS?
- frik 11y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software