Re: [PLUG] Reg: You thought you bought software – all you bought was a lie

[Fred Stluka via plug <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>]

On 10/4/22 8:35 PM, JP Vossen via plug wrote:
> https://www.theregister.com/2022/10/04/you_cannot_buy_software/
>
> I think this is a great article, though I don't 100% agree that all 
> source code is useless and unreadable.  Otherwise, that's pretty much 
> why I like open source software...the freedom.

Right.  Imagine trying to use a tool like apt or yum, if each
of the dozens of dependent installs/upgrades had to check
for a license and prompt you for a credit card number!  The
freedom to use and upgrade FOSS apps, tools, and libraries
is HUGE.

I also agree with the point about using FOSS apps as a first
step, before moving to a FOSS OS.  I've moved a few people
off of Windows, by moving them first to all non-MS apps
like Firefox/Chrome, Thunderbird, LibreOffice.  Once they
were using such apps, they really didn't care any more what
OS they were using.  Just as Windows made you not care too
much what "IBM PC" hardware it ran on, so FOSS apps make
you not care what OS they run on.


> One thing I think discussions like this always miss is the cost of 
> acquiring and managing proprietary software licenses.  How much does 
> $WORK spend just keeping track of proprietary software licenses?  
> Forget about the license itself, just the overhead?  I bet $WORK has 
> paid for proprietary software licenses for programs to track and 
> manage...wait for it...proprietary software licenses!  Circular insanity.

Also, in addition to the cost of *managing* the licenses, consider
the cost, to the vendors and the users, of simply *checking* for
valid licenses all the time.  Lots of extra code, lots of edge cases
that arise because some piece isn't licensed, lots of lost CPU time,
etc.

--Fred
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Fred Stluka -- http://bristle.com -- Glad to be of service!
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