Re: [to all candidates] Free Software challenges and Debian role
Lucas Nussbaum writes: > (I still hadn't replied to that question -- I'll do that by following-up > on Moray's reply since I agree with most of it) ...and I'll take the easiest route, and follow up on Lucas' mail, since I mostly agree with both of them. Sorry! > On 12/03/13 at 17:11 +0300, Moray Allan wrote: >> [...] >> >> - End-users are moving to web applications/"the cloud". Few of the >> most heavily used ones are free software. Even if they are, >> centralised web applications remove users' ability to modify >> software to their own needs unless they duplicate a large amount of >> infrastructure. And in many cases cloud services reduce users' >> control even over their data itself, not just over the platform. We >> used to have trouble with the network effect of e.g. Microsoft >> Office file formats, but free-of-charge web applications can be even >> worse for free software, since objectors need to argue an >> ideological point to say why they want information in another way, >> rather than only explain that they haven't bought that piece of >> software or that it won't work on their OS. >> >> - Server users are also migrating to "the cloud". In many cases >> this means that their services move to sit on a non-free platform, >> and it often reduces ease of modification even in free parts of the >> platform. > > Note that in that case, the cloud is also a great opportunity for us, > since most IaaS clouds users use them with free software. So the Cloud > tends to reinforce the position of libre operating systems for server > OS. While the cloud is a great opportunity for us, as Moray said, quite often, we'd sit on top of a non-free platform. I usually put this under the same label as non-free hardware, because hardware is being replaced by virtualization - but the setup remains fairly similar. I'd add two more things I see as an increasing risk for free software in general: One is code dumps, where the software itself may be free, but development behind it is not, when vendors abide the letter of the license, but not the spirit. That is something that is becoming more and more common, and I find that very worrying. Not only because it does not follow the spirit of free software, but because it makes it much harder to contribute and work with the software in question. I can easily see it alienating people, who'd otherwise become part of the larger free software community. Not only does it not follow the spirit, I believe it actively works against it. The other issue I see is bundling (often patched) third-party libraries. That is hard to untangle, makes security support a nightmare, and has all kinds of negative side-effects. All that to make it slightly more convenient for vendors, who never really learned how to work with free software. (This also applies to careless find & sed forks, though those are thankfully much rarer). There's quite a lot we could teach them there, and the world would become a much better place. -- |8] -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-vote-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/87a9pl7pz8@galadriel.madhouse-project.org
Re: [to all candidates] Free Software challenges and Debian role
(I still hadn't replied to that question -- I'll do that by following-up on Moray's reply since I agree with most of it) On 12/03/13 at 17:11 +0300, Moray Allan wrote: > [...] > > - End-users are moving to web applications/"the cloud". Few of the > most heavily used ones are free software. Even if they are, > centralised web applications remove users' ability to modify > software to their own needs unless they duplicate a large amount of > infrastructure. And in many cases cloud services reduce users' > control even over their data itself, not just over the platform. We > used to have trouble with the network effect of e.g. Microsoft > Office file formats, but free-of-charge web applications can be even > worse for free software, since objectors need to argue an > ideological point to say why they want information in another way, > rather than only explain that they haven't bought that piece of > software or that it won't work on their OS. > > - Server users are also migrating to "the cloud". In many cases > this means that their services move to sit on a non-free platform, > and it often reduces ease of modification even in free parts of the > platform. Note that in that case, the cloud is also a great opportunity for us, since most IaaS clouds users use them with free software. So the Cloud tends to reinforce the position of libre operating systems for server OS. Which brings me to another challenge that was not mentioned by Moray: the increased "commoditization" of software. Increasingly, free software becomes one of the building blocks of locked-in or proprietary software sets. That applies to e.g. Android or to public Clouds, where most of the infrastructure is based on free software, but where the final user has no awareness of that. Lucas -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-vote-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20130320084302.ga22...@xanadu.blop.info
Re: [to all candidates] Free Software challenges and Debian role
On 2013-03-11 16:35, Stefano Zacchiroli wrote: But then, one wonders, what are the main challenges that free software at large faces today? [...] What do candidates think of this? Is free software "going well"? Is it going to go "better" or "worse" in forthcoming years? Why? For me the biggest challenges for free software today that are "getting worse" are: - End-users are moving to more closed hardware. Only a small proportion of people carefully screen their hardware for free-software drivers etc. before choosing it. In the last few years, we've been in a fairly good situation where installing Debian on laptops and desktops generally just worked. That won't necessarily stay the case. And for many tablets and phones there is already no easy way to install any free software base. - End-users are moving to web applications/"the cloud". Few of the most heavily used ones are free software. Even if they are, centralised web applications remove users' ability to modify software to their own needs unless they duplicate a large amount of infrastructure. And in many cases cloud services reduce users' control even over their data itself, not just over the platform. We used to have trouble with the network effect of e.g. Microsoft Office file formats, but free-of-charge web applications can be even worse for free software, since objectors need to argue an ideological point to say why they want information in another way, rather than only explain that they haven't bought that piece of software or that it won't work on their OS. - Server users are also migrating to "the cloud". In many cases this means that their services move to sit on a non-free platform, and it often reduces ease of modification even in free parts of the platform. Alongside those we have some challenges that may be "getting better", including: - Divisions. When we take free software as an ideological/political position, it is natural for us to defend our principles even against divergent views from others who believe in free software. For example, we have had significant disagreements with the FSF. However, factionalism damages our cause, and makes it harder for outsiders to hear the viewpoints that we share. - Radicalism. There is a danger that we stop being radical, and forget about activism, and become happy for free software just to be some "open source" code that supports the lower-level of internet services, and something we can run ourselves on carefully chosen hardware. But there is already public and media awareness of some of the negative aspects of "the cloud", including for users' privacy and control of their data -- there is an opportunity for us to gather new supporters. Then, if you think free software is not at its best at present, what do you think Debian could do to help? At a glance, Debian seems to have always done one thing (distributing free software) and has done so relatively well. Is that enough for current and future free software challenges? Or should we change to better face those challenges? As a member of the free software community, Debian should aim to take clear positions, especially where it can combine its voice with other parts of the community. Beyond that, I do think that building an operating system that we intend to be "100% free", and making it available to others to use, modify and redistribute, is how we can contribute best. In my platform, I also spoke about a hope that we might increase our active contacts with press, companies, governmental organisations, and through local groups. In those contexts we should always be clear on Debian's position on free software. Often a "missionary" attitude could be counterproductive, but that doesn't mean we should hide our position behind vague statements. In some cases it is easier for Debian to be heard than purely campaigning organisations -- for example Debian contributors who run companies in a region can contact politicians and local media as concerned business interests. In most regions, a free software economy that supports many small local businesses would be economically preferable to depending on a few large international IT companies. -- Moray -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-vote-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/9590d546cfb0d4630ed60fd63bb0d...@www.morayallan.com
[to all candidates] Free Software challenges and Debian role
(After 4 years, I'm again on the right side of the ballot box to ask questions... *cracking knuckles*) All candidates seem to agree that Debian has an important role to play in the Free Software movement at large. Good: I couldn't agree more! :) But then, one wonders, what are the main challenges that free software at large faces today? For one thing, it would quite pointless to have, say, Debian be a recognized free software "leader," if free software in itself is declining or doomed to fail. I'm not saying I think it is the case, but if our success is a part of free software success, we do need to have an opinion on how free software is going, outside our Project boundaries. What do candidates think of this? Is free software "going well"? Is it going to go "better" or "worse" in forthcoming years? Why? Then, if you think free software is not at its best at present, what do you think Debian could do to help? At a glance, Debian seems to have always done one thing (distributing free software) and has done so relatively well. Is that enough for current and future free software challenges? Or should we change to better face those challenges? Many thanks in advance for your answers, Cheers. -- Stefano Zacchiroli . . . . . . . z...@upsilon.cc . . . . o . . . o . o Maître de conférences . . . . . http://upsilon.cc/zack . . . o . . . o o Debian Project Leader . . . . . . @zack on identi.ca . . o o o . . . o . « the first rule of tautology club is the first rule of tautology club » signature.asc Description: Digital signature
