4 ms·

People always argue what "open source" means, but we all know damn well what it means in the colloquial sense now. It means the source is available, and you ca

People always argue what "open source" means, but we all know damn well what it means in the colloquial sense now. It means the source is available, and you can use it under some very permissive terms, and there is no barrier to access. This is like how a "free" game used to mean actually free, but now free means "with IAP and ads", so now we don't have a single word to just mean "free as in beer" for games. So now I can't tell someone my hobby project is just plain free, I have to explain "no I don't mean full of bullshit, I mean free". FWIW I agree, it's a violation of our standard idea of open source. Tangentially, watchmaking is cool, and there are many free/open plans in various mechanical and 3D printing type communities. Also, I feel like sharing this link which shows this guy's shop, it's not huge or complex, and makes the art of watchmaking seem approachable. Just need an old pantograph milling machine and a few other things https://watchesbysjx.com/2017/05/portrait-masahiro-kikuno-japanese-watchmaker.html https://watchesbysjx.com/2017/05/portrait-masahiro-kikuno-ja...

viraptor 5y ago
It happens in many areas, if descriptivists are more common than prescriptivists, you can't win - the term/phrase will change its meaning. We've lost some good words to that fight and we'll lose more.
ezoe 5y ago
I guess that's why RMS don't like the idea of term "Open Source". The term "free" in English is ambiguous and it has it's problem. But the term "Open Source" is worse. It just feel like source code is available but it doesn't matter the rest of the strings attached to it.
hnick 5y ago
Unlimited means limited? What a country! Apologies to Dr Nick
chmod600 5y ago
When I think of a "free game", I think of shareware. In what era did "free game" mean really free?
- PostOnce 5y ago
  Free full game on a demo disc in the 90s/00s, you could sell magazines giving away an old gane Free release of old game to promote new game (lots of these) Free on steam / epic / origin (to get new users) Free in a cereal box (chex quest anyone) Free because the author doesn't want to sell it anymore but wants people to play it Free because it's open source now AND the assets are included (like ur quan masters) Free because its a hobby (like https://thedarkmod.com/ https://thedarkmod.com/ or 0 A.D. or other 'real' games that are hobbies) Lots of games have been free as in beer some time or other

viraptor 5y ago

It happens in many areas, if descriptivists are more common than prescriptivists, you can't win - the term/phrase will change its meaning. We've lost some good words to that fight and we'll lose more.

ezoe 5y ago

I guess that's why RMS don't like the idea of term "Open Source". The term "free" in English is ambiguous and it has it's problem. But the term "Open Source" is worse. It just feel like source code is available but it doesn't matter the rest of the strings attached to it.

hnick 5y ago

Unlimited means limited? What a country! Apologies to Dr Nick

chmod600 5y ago

When I think of a "free game", I think of shareware. In what era did "free game" mean really free?

PostOnce 5y ago
Free full game on a demo disc in the 90s/00s, you could sell magazines giving away an old gane Free release of old game to promote new game (lots of these) Free on steam / epic / origin (to get new users) Free in a cereal box (chex quest anyone) Free because the author doesn't want to sell it anymore but wants people to play it Free because it's open source now AND the assets are included (like ur quan masters) Free because its a hobby (like https://thedarkmod.com/ https://thedarkmod.com/ or 0 A.D. or other 'real' games that are hobbies) Lots of games have been free as in beer some time or other