5 ms·

Reading some of the comments I agree that replacing something like Windows is not easy. But I think there are a lot of areas where FOSS is becoming a clear answ

Reading some of the comments I agree that replacing something like Windows is not easy. But I think there are a lot of areas where FOSS is becoming a clear answer. Think of the jobs that require people to use a cloud based software for 90% of their work, these jobs just need a good browser like Firefox and a office suit like LibreOffice[1]. Take 2D/3D design work. 10 Years ago it was almost impossile to get any decent 2D/3D work done on foss now there are powerful tools like GIMP[2], Inkscape[3], Scribus[4], and Blender[5], Godot[6]. I agree the non FOSS alternatives are a lot more smoother than the FOSS alternatives, but this is a compromise worth making when we consider how user hostile some software companies have become in the recent years and if more people turn to FOSS their pain points can be converted in to tools that helps us all improve FOSS. We are at a time when a few software companies have so much power they are even able to play with our ability to participate in a democracy and I think its our responsibility as software folk (most of us here) to help guide people in the FOSS direction than trying to nudge everyone away from it because of a few pain points. [1]https://www.libreoffice.org/ https://www.libreoffice.org/ [2]https://www.gimp.org/ https://www.gimp.org/ [3]https://inkscape.org https://inkscape.org [4]https://www.scribus.net/ https://www.scribus.net/ [5]https://www.blender.org/ https://www.blender.org/ [6]https://godotengine.org/ https://godotengine.org/

sz4kerto 6y ago
> Think of the jobs that require people to use a cloud based software for 90% of their work, these jobs just need a good browser like Firefox and a office suit like LibreOffice[1]. Okay, but what do you win, really? Are you going to use Google Apps or Microsoft 365? The exact same thing is going to happen (or is happening) there already. I think that replacing somewhat flawed, non-OSS local systems with OSS 'thin clients' that connect to fully closed, centrally managed cloud services is a really bad choice if you want to regain control.
- ajvs 6y ago
  Baby steps. Swapping for a Firefox and LibrrOffice (which also has a web version) is a big improvement in privacy already. By having this all-or-nothing mindset people don't ever take the first steps towards taking privacy seriously.
danieldk 6y ago
Take 2D/3D design work. 10 Years ago it was almost impossile to get any decent 2D/3D work done on foss now there are powerful tools like GIMP[2], Inkscape[3], Scribus[4], and Blender[5], Godot[6]. Most of these have been around a lot longer than 10 years. Heck, The Gimp was released in 1996, Blender exists since 1994 (I remember playing with it at the end of the 90ies or beginning 00s when it was still freeware), Scribus since 2003, and Inkscape since 2003. Sure, each of them have improved the last 10 years, but the deltas are not that big that you can get many things done now that you couldn't get done 10 years ago. I primarily use Linux, but with the exception of Blender, these tools are not as easy to use or as extensive as their counterparts on macOS (and probably Windows, but I don't really know Windows). In fact, until very recently Gimp and Inkscape did not even have proper HiDPI support (since they were still on Gtk+2). This is not a criticism on the developers of these tools. They are amazing feats of engineering. But at some point they would probably need funding so that someone can put in the time to polish all the sharp edges.
- petra 6y ago
  It's also about ecosystyems - for photoshop it's plugins, and books, and tutorials, and everybody is working with it, and it's often expected on a resume. So even given decent funding, i'm not sure GIMP could replace photoshop. Network effects are a serious moat.
  - 29083011397778 6y ago
    A fascinating question is: What happens now that Adobe has moved to the cloud? Will teens learn enough in school to get by, or will the inability to pirate for learning purposes kneecap Adobe's ability to maintain their PS moat?
politelemon 6y ago
I will point out that GIMP has improved a _lot_ compared to just a few years ago. I even run it on Windows.

sz4kerto 6y ago

> Think of the jobs that require people to use a cloud based software for 90% of their work, these jobs just need a good browser like Firefox and a office suit like LibreOffice[1]. Okay, but what do you win, really? Are you going to use Google Apps or Microsoft 365? The exact same thing is going to happen (or is happening) there already. I think that replacing somewhat flawed, non-OSS local systems with OSS 'thin clients' that connect to fully closed, centrally managed cloud services is a really bad choice if you want to regain control.

ajvs 6y ago
Baby steps. Swapping for a Firefox and LibrrOffice (which also has a web version) is a big improvement in privacy already. By having this all-or-nothing mindset people don't ever take the first steps towards taking privacy seriously.

danieldk 6y ago

Take 2D/3D design work. 10 Years ago it was almost impossile to get any decent 2D/3D work done on foss now there are powerful tools like GIMP[2], Inkscape[3], Scribus[4], and Blender[5], Godot[6]. Most of these have been around a lot longer than 10 years. Heck, The Gimp was released in 1996, Blender exists since 1994 (I remember playing with it at the end of the 90ies or beginning 00s when it was still freeware), Scribus since 2003, and Inkscape since 2003. Sure, each of them have improved the last 10 years, but the deltas are not that big that you can get many things done now that you couldn't get done 10 years ago. I primarily use Linux, but with the exception of Blender, these tools are not as easy to use or as extensive as their counterparts on macOS (and probably Windows, but I don't really know Windows). In fact, until very recently Gimp and Inkscape did not even have proper HiDPI support (since they were still on Gtk+2). This is not a criticism on the developers of these tools. They are amazing feats of engineering. But at some point they would probably need funding so that someone can put in the time to polish all the sharp edges.

petra 6y ago
It's also about ecosystyems - for photoshop it's plugins, and books, and tutorials, and everybody is working with it, and it's often expected on a resume. So even given decent funding, i'm not sure GIMP could replace photoshop. Network effects are a serious moat.
- 29083011397778 6y ago
  A fascinating question is: What happens now that Adobe has moved to the cloud? Will teens learn enough in school to get by, or will the inability to pirate for learning purposes kneecap Adobe's ability to maintain their PS moat?

politelemon 6y ago

I will point out that GIMP has improved a _lot_ compared to just a few years ago. I even run it on Windows.