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How does being offline have absolutely anything to do with their terrible UI?

AnthonyMouse 6y ago
I know we're having a laugh directing the would-be pirates to where they can get "free software" from, but you already know the answer to your question, right? Online proprietary software sells you to advertisers for money, or locks you into an ecosystem so they can sell you to other third parties, and they use some of that money to fund development. With free software you either have to improve it yourself (the source code is on the internet) or give them money so they can hire someone to do it (they all have donation links). If you're dissatisfied with the user interface, have you tried doing the things that cause it to be improved?
- XMPPwocky 6y ago
  If you're unhappy that people don't like free software, have you tried donating more money and contributing more to those projects so that they'll improve and people will like them more?
  - AnthonyMouse 6y ago
    Yes. The overall result was for the software to improve to such an extent that it now overwhelmingly dominates the markets for servers, embedded devices and utility programs (e.g. zip, encryption, file transfer) and is the basis for the most commonly used smartphone operating system and browser. It has also caused alternatives to Office and Photoshop, while not perfect, to exist. Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say.
- somehnguy 6y ago
  Again, this has nothing to do with software being always online or not. Great looking software existed long before the rise of everything being always online.
  - AnthonyMouse 6y ago
    > Again, this has nothing to do with software being always online or not. Only if by "nothing to do with" you ignore that it is the method by which development is funded. > Great looking software existed long before the rise of everything being always online. At which time you had to pay a lot of money for it. If everybody gave the same money to free software developers, they'd have plenty of resources to build interfaces that are more to your satisfaction.
    - somehnguy 6y ago
      Your entire premise is flawed imo. >If everybody gave the same money to free software developers, they'd have plenty of resources to build interfaces that are more to your satisfaction. You're just arguing to pay for software, but in a more roundabout way. And again, great looking software existed far before the popularity rise in always-online.

I know we're having a laugh directing the would-be pirates to where they can get "free software" from, but you already know the answer to your question, right? Online proprietary software sells you to advertisers for money, or locks you into an ecosystem so they can sell you to other third parties, and they use some of that money to fund development. With free software you either have to improve it yourself (the source code is on the internet) or give them money so they can hire someone to do it (they all have donation links). If you're dissatisfied with the user interface, have you tried doing the things that cause it to be improved?

XMPPwocky 6y ago
If you're unhappy that people don't like free software, have you tried donating more money and contributing more to those projects so that they'll improve and people will like them more?
- AnthonyMouse 6y ago
  Yes. The overall result was for the software to improve to such an extent that it now overwhelmingly dominates the markets for servers, embedded devices and utility programs (e.g. zip, encryption, file transfer) and is the basis for the most commonly used smartphone operating system and browser. It has also caused alternatives to Office and Photoshop, while not perfect, to exist. Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say.
somehnguy 6y ago
Again, this has nothing to do with software being always online or not. Great looking software existed long before the rise of everything being always online.
- AnthonyMouse 6y ago
  > Again, this has nothing to do with software being always online or not. Only if by "nothing to do with" you ignore that it is the method by which development is funded. > Great looking software existed long before the rise of everything being always online. At which time you had to pay a lot of money for it. If everybody gave the same money to free software developers, they'd have plenty of resources to build interfaces that are more to your satisfaction.
  - somehnguy 6y ago
    Your entire premise is flawed imo. >If everybody gave the same money to free software developers, they'd have plenty of resources to build interfaces that are more to your satisfaction. You're just arguing to pay for software, but in a more roundabout way. And again, great looking software existed far before the popularity rise in always-online.