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The standard story in the computer folklore was Movable Type [0], a blogging platform. In the early 2000s when blogosphere was at its height, Movable Type was u

The standard story in the computer folklore was Movable Type [0], a blogging platform. In the early 2000s when blogosphere was at its height, Movable Type was used by numerous authors. It was freeware, source code available, and had a big collection of plugins and extensions. It was not Free and Open Source, with restrictions on use and redistribution, but most thought it was good enough. As time went by, its shortcomings and limitations became obvious and a new version was needed. But the development has already stagnated because the publisher's interests shifted. And finally when the new version was released, it contained numerous bugs, and many bloggers suddenly found they needed to pay several hundreds dollars of licensing fee under the new license. Matthew Thomas, a blogosphere personality, wrote an outline for anyone who wants to create an ultimate blogging platform [2] that can stand the test of time and prevent similar incidents from happening again. Requirements included free database backend, open archive formats, and free software. His article was also the source of a famous remark, > In the long run, the utility of all non-Free software approaches zero. --- [0] https://www.gwern.net/docs/technology/2004-pilgrim-freedom0.html https://www.gwern.net/docs/technology/2004-pilgrim-freedom0.... [1] http://web.archive.org/web/20051107103030/http://mpt.phrasewise.com/2003/05/02 http://web.archive.org/web/20051107103030/http://mpt.phrasew... [2] The Movable Type Incident was a major event responsible for the rise of WordPress, which was a new project at that time. Even the name "WordPress" refers to the printing press, in analogue to Movable Type.

hutzlibu 6y ago
"In the long run, the utility of all non-Free software approaches zero." But to be fair, that is allmost true of any software, with changing archtectures programming languages etc. but a thousands times yes! With free software you have at least the option of doing the work of migrating.
- einpoklum 6y ago
  Well, depends on what you mean by "long term". BSD-licensed low-level unix programs are still quite useful today and are likely to continue to be very useful in coming decades.
  - MaxBarraclough 6y ago
    If they're BSD-licensed, that means they're Free Software.
    - segfaultbuserr 6y ago
      Nobody said it isn't. You misunderstood the discussion here. I quoted "In the long run, the utility of all non-Free software approaches zero." hutzlibu said the same problem affects all software, not just non-Free software. In a constantly changing computing environment, even free software is affected. Nevertheless, hutzlibu was in agreement with the "spirit" of the quote, because at least the user still controls the software, and it's possible to migrate. einpoklum disagreed, using BSD utilities as an example - showing how free software can be unaffected. Disclaimer: I didn't downvote the parent post - Why is my parent post downvoted? There's really no disagreement here.
      - MaxBarraclough 6y ago
        Right, gotcha. > Why is my parent post downvoted? There's really no disagreement here. I appreciate it, but even if I'd disagreed, that's no reason to downvote.
  - hutzlibu 6y ago
    And I am sure there are still comercial modules around, from the 70s or earlier, as well..
cercatrova 6y ago
Honestly, a blog should just generate itself from plaintext, like Markdown, so that you can always keep the data, and even put it in version control and diff it easily.

hutzlibu 6y ago

"In the long run, the utility of all non-Free software approaches zero." But to be fair, that is allmost true of any software, with changing archtectures programming languages etc. but a thousands times yes! With free software you have at least the option of doing the work of migrating.

einpoklum 6y ago
Well, depends on what you mean by "long term". BSD-licensed low-level unix programs are still quite useful today and are likely to continue to be very useful in coming decades.
- MaxBarraclough 6y ago
  If they're BSD-licensed, that means they're Free Software.
  - segfaultbuserr 6y ago
    Nobody said it isn't. You misunderstood the discussion here. I quoted "In the long run, the utility of all non-Free software approaches zero." hutzlibu said the same problem affects all software, not just non-Free software. In a constantly changing computing environment, even free software is affected. Nevertheless, hutzlibu was in agreement with the "spirit" of the quote, because at least the user still controls the software, and it's possible to migrate. einpoklum disagreed, using BSD utilities as an example - showing how free software can be unaffected. Disclaimer: I didn't downvote the parent post - Why is my parent post downvoted? There's really no disagreement here.
    - MaxBarraclough 6y ago
      Right, gotcha. > Why is my parent post downvoted? There's really no disagreement here. I appreciate it, but even if I'd disagreed, that's no reason to downvote.
- hutzlibu 6y ago
  And I am sure there are still comercial modules around, from the 70s or earlier, as well..

cercatrova 6y ago

Honestly, a blog should just generate itself from plaintext, like Markdown, so that you can always keep the data, and even put it in version control and diff it easily.