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This is really the death of open source software as a mainstream thing. Here it is, the golden opportunity for decentralization and open source to solve a large

by 0F5 4y ago

This is really the death of open source software as a mainstream thing. Here it is, the golden opportunity for decentralization and open source to solve a large societal problem. And it fails miserably. Open source can’t survive in a world where computers and software aren’t esoteric, mysterious, status-signaling to be a part of like they were in the late 90s onward. Computers are just mundane. There’s no more reason for greyhound to go open source and be powered by volunteer labor than social media companies.

ajross 4y ago
The bulk of the software you literally just used to post that comment and get it to my eyeballs was open source. What on earth are you on about? The idea that all software is immediately-visible UX should have died in the 80's. It wasn't even true then, but it was closer to true. Now, it's basically laughable. Open source will do just fine whether you know it's there or not. It's been a "mainstream thing" for decades. The war you imagine was won, long ago.
- 0F5 4y ago
  This is the same tired response I get every time I point this out. The Linux kernel exists, and with this single fact your entire argument is dismantled. It isn’t. Linux is the last example of open source software that is good enough to compete in the market. As soon as Linux dies or retires, Linux will decline and eventually be replaced by a commercial product. The only reason it hasn’t happened yet is because computers were too new to be seen as viable by capital and businesspeople.
systemvoltage 4y ago
It's the same with Linux desktop. You need a 800lb Canonical gorilla to make things move in OSS. And then, they'll insert Amazon ads in your desktop search bar. So we're back to square one — no different than Microsoft Windows shoving telemetary on users. I, for one, would love a sexy Linux desktop experience. Elementary OS is getting better but it is no match to macOS.

by 0F5 4y ago

ajross 4y ago

The bulk of the software you literally just used to post that comment and get it to my eyeballs was open source. What on earth are you on about? The idea that all software is immediately-visible UX should have died in the 80's. It wasn't even true then, but it was closer to true. Now, it's basically laughable. Open source will do just fine whether you know it's there or not. It's been a "mainstream thing" for decades. The war you imagine was won, long ago.

0F5 4y ago
This is the same tired response I get every time I point this out. The Linux kernel exists, and with this single fact your entire argument is dismantled. It isn’t. Linux is the last example of open source software that is good enough to compete in the market. As soon as Linux dies or retires, Linux will decline and eventually be replaced by a commercial product. The only reason it hasn’t happened yet is because computers were too new to be seen as viable by capital and businesspeople.

systemvoltage 4y ago

It's the same with Linux desktop. You need a 800lb Canonical gorilla to make things move in OSS. And then, they'll insert Amazon ads in your desktop search bar. So we're back to square one — no different than Microsoft Windows shoving telemetary on users. I, for one, would love a sexy Linux desktop experience. Elementary OS is getting better but it is no match to macOS.