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If I buy a smart heater that connects to some backend using free software and the company shuts off that backend I'm sure as heck not solving that problem by ed

If I buy a smart heater that connects to some backend using free software and the company shuts off that backend I'm sure as heck not solving that problem by editing the software and reinstalling it to do some new different thing. And I'm a professional software engineer. Free software means that in theory you can modify and maintain the software you run on your machines to your liking (not hardware though, or backends). But this is so incredibly far beyond the capabilities of the enormous majority of people that it might as well not be a thing in the first place.

fsflover 5y ago
If it uses free software, you can reprogram it to connect to your own server (or anyone else's who wants your money). > But this is so incredibly far beyond the capabilities of the enormous majority of people that it might as well not be a thing in the first place. You don't have to be a programmer to benefit from free software. The latter simply removes the monopoly of the software developers and allows alternative developers to work for you if you pay them.
- UncleMeat 5y ago
  > You don't have to be a programmer to benefit from free software. The latter simply removes the monopoly of the software developers and allows alternative developers to work for you if you pay them. And where is this font of developers writing replacements for abandoned free software? We've had decades of GPL software. The number of people who have actually used this lever is incredibly small.
  - fsflover 5y ago
    > The number of people who have actually used this lever is incredibly small. Where can I go to a shop and buy, e.g., a laptop with Linux? It's practically impossible. I guess it's because the monopolies don't allow anyone to enter the market. In practice, Linux is already better for many use cases.
    - UncleMeat 5y ago
      Huh? Linux is free. You can stick it on every laptop with just a USB stick. I also have no idea how this is related to the fact that almost no actual consumers are taking advantage of GPL code to continue to maintain their products beyond support offered by their developers. If anything, this would be evidence that GPL software isn't a panacea since doing something as basic as installing Linux is far beyond the capacity of most consumers.
      - fsflover 5y ago
        > You can stick it on every laptop with just a USB stick. Yes, I can do it, but 95% of people can't. Incidentally, about 5% of people run Linux. > how this is related to the fact that almost no actual consumers are taking advantage of GPL code Because the more people use the code, the more development occurs there.

fsflover 5y ago

If it uses free software, you can reprogram it to connect to your own server (or anyone else's who wants your money). > But this is so incredibly far beyond the capabilities of the enormous majority of people that it might as well not be a thing in the first place. You don't have to be a programmer to benefit from free software. The latter simply removes the monopoly of the software developers and allows alternative developers to work for you if you pay them.

UncleMeat 5y ago
> You don't have to be a programmer to benefit from free software. The latter simply removes the monopoly of the software developers and allows alternative developers to work for you if you pay them. And where is this font of developers writing replacements for abandoned free software? We've had decades of GPL software. The number of people who have actually used this lever is incredibly small.
- fsflover 5y ago
  > The number of people who have actually used this lever is incredibly small. Where can I go to a shop and buy, e.g., a laptop with Linux? It's practically impossible. I guess it's because the monopolies don't allow anyone to enter the market. In practice, Linux is already better for many use cases.
  - UncleMeat 5y ago
    Huh? Linux is free. You can stick it on every laptop with just a USB stick. I also have no idea how this is related to the fact that almost no actual consumers are taking advantage of GPL code to continue to maintain their products beyond support offered by their developers. If anything, this would be evidence that GPL software isn't a panacea since doing something as basic as installing Linux is far beyond the capacity of most consumers.
    - fsflover 5y ago
      > You can stick it on every laptop with just a USB stick. Yes, I can do it, but 95% of people can't. Incidentally, about 5% of people run Linux. > how this is related to the fact that almost no actual consumers are taking advantage of GPL code Because the more people use the code, the more development occurs there.