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While this (Threema) is Open Source, I feel it does not align with the spirit of FOSS. See the commits here for example: https://github.com/threema-ch/threema-

While this (Threema) is Open Source, I feel it does not align with the spirit of FOSS. See the commits here for example: https://github.com/threema-ch/threema-android/commits/main https://github.com/threema-ch/threema-android/commits/main It's one commit per version. Contributions go to a private email instead of a public mailing list. All development happens in private and pushed to the public in a version bump with no changelog. So yeah it has an AGPL License (which is good) and meets the minimum of FOSS requirements, but it gives of the feeling that they're following the letter, but not the spirit of FOSS. I would definitely not use it or push any friend to use it.

rozab 6y ago
That's... strange. Whats even the point of being on GitHub in this case, why not just distribute a source tarball with each release?
dijit 6y ago
it used to be a paid app/service (quite an expensive one) it's only recently been open sourced. Definitely not "FOSS-first", but it's something.
- b6z 6y ago
  I paid €0.80 for the app in 2014. Yes, that was a temporary discount, normal price was €2.99, I think. It is €3.99 now, single payment. I still wouldn't call that expensive.
  - dijit 6y ago
    40:- SEK puts it in the top 10% of all iOS Apps. Its contemporaries are free. Ergo, it is comparatively expensive.
beojan 6y ago
This is the cathedral style of development which was historically how GNU was developed, so I think it's perfectly in the spirit of Free Software.
gggtt 6y ago
I don't think that Signal which is refusing forks or third party clients is any better aligned with the FOSS spirit.. https://github.com/LibreSignal/LibreSignal/issues/37#issuecomment-217211165 https://github.com/LibreSignal/LibreSignal/issues/37#issueco... "You're free to use our source code for whatever you would like but you cannot use our servers" and they also refuse alternative servers or federation. So basically you cannot create any fork or alternative client or make any change without their agreement. They are very "Apple-like" in a way, "we known what's good for you, so just agree with us and don't try to go outside of what we want". They also refuse to be on F-Droid for plainly false arguments. F-Droid offers double security : author signature + reproducible builds yet they keep pretending that you cannot sign apks on F-Droid and force you to download a non-externally verified apk on their website Signal in itself is great but the people behind are not reassuring at all I think.

rozab 6y ago

That's... strange. Whats even the point of being on GitHub in this case, why not just distribute a source tarball with each release?

dijit 6y ago

it used to be a paid app/service (quite an expensive one) it's only recently been open sourced. Definitely not "FOSS-first", but it's something.

b6z 6y ago
I paid €0.80 for the app in 2014. Yes, that was a temporary discount, normal price was €2.99, I think. It is €3.99 now, single payment. I still wouldn't call that expensive.
- dijit 6y ago
  40:- SEK puts it in the top 10% of all iOS Apps. Its contemporaries are free. Ergo, it is comparatively expensive.

beojan 6y ago

This is the cathedral style of development which was historically how GNU was developed, so I think it's perfectly in the spirit of Free Software.

gggtt 6y ago

I don't think that Signal which is refusing forks or third party clients is any better aligned with the FOSS spirit.. https://github.com/LibreSignal/LibreSignal/issues/37#issuecomment-217211165 https://github.com/LibreSignal/LibreSignal/issues/37#issueco... "You're free to use our source code for whatever you would like but you cannot use our servers" and they also refuse alternative servers or federation. So basically you cannot create any fork or alternative client or make any change without their agreement. They are very "Apple-like" in a way, "we known what's good for you, so just agree with us and don't try to go outside of what we want". They also refuse to be on F-Droid for plainly false arguments. F-Droid offers double security : author signature + reproducible builds yet they keep pretending that you cannot sign apks on F-Droid and force you to download a non-externally verified apk on their website Signal in itself is great but the people behind are not reassuring at all I think.