{#
SPDX-License-Identifier: CC0-1.0

koszko.org website start page (english).

Copyright (C) 2021,2022 Wojtek Kosior <koszko@koszko.org>
#}
{% extends "__index.html.jinja" %}

{% block title %} Libre programs {% endblock %}

{% block content %}
  {{ header(1, 'Campaign for libre software') }}

  {% call section('what-software') %}
    {{ header(2, 'What software?') }}

    {% call para() %}
      Libre program is one its user can use for any purpose, modify in the form
      of source code and redistribute, including for commercial
      purposes. Examples are GNU/Linux operating system, VLC media player, GIMP,
      LibreOffice, WordPress and also (except for certain components): Firefox
      browser, Android operating system and Chromium browser. A program user
      cannot modify or redistribute for either legal or technical reasons is
      called proprietary or nonfree.
    {% endcall %}
  {% endcall %}

  {% call section('who-needs-this') %}
    {{ header(2, 'Who needs this?') }}

    {% call para() %}
      Libre program gives user control. Computer is a useful device, yet is does
      nothing by itself. To work it needs a program. Computer's owner is only
      able to control it indirectly, through a program. If the software being
      run is libre, the user has control over it and hence over the device. A
      proprietary program, on the other hand, is controlled by its vendor (or
      speaking 100% strictly — the party holding its cource code). Such program
      only does what its vendor wants it to. As a result, the device also does
      not what its owner wants but rather what program's vendor wants. Instead
      of the desired situation where device user controls the device, we get a
      reversed one: vendor, through program, controls the user and decides what
      user can and cannot do. Of course, in practice we witness different levels
      of users mistreatment. One edge case is an operating system only allowing
      installation of applications approved by its vendor.
    {% endcall %}

    {% call para() %}
      Everyone should care about using libre programs simply because it is good
      to have control over one's own devices. The issue is not, however, limited
      to personal preferences. The more people in a society rely on proprietary,
      incompatible tools, the harder life is for those willing to choose libre
      ones.
    {% endcall %}

    {% call para() %}
      The problem is also worth looking at on a different scale. A state with
      proprietary programs in widespread use is not fully independent — it
      depends indirectly on vendors of these programs. For this reason a duty of
      responsibility for one's state also means taking action to stop its
      economy and education from relying on proprietary operating systems or
      tools.
    {% endcall %}
  {% endcall %}

  {% call section('how-this-matters-to-non-programmers') %}
    {{ header(2, 'How does all this matter to someone who cannot program?') }}

    {% call para() %}
      One does not need to be a programmer in order to utilize the control libre
      programs give. Quite often when a direction of some libre program is bad
      (e.g. antifeatures are being added like telemetry in Firefox), independent
      people come up with a version of that program without the original
      drawbacks (example would be the
      {{ link('https://librewolf-community.gitlab.io/', 'LibreWolf') }}
      browser). All that's needed is a bit of demand for a modified version of
      some program. Bussinessmen, on the other hand, might find it practical to
      employ someone to adapt a libre program to company's needs.
    {% endcall %}
  {% endcall %}

  {% call section('how-is-moneymaking-affected') %}
    {% call header(2) %}
      Does it mean programmers shouldn't be paid for writing software?
    {% endcall %}

    {% call para() %}
      Equating libre program with gratis and proprietary with paid is a very
      common misunderstanding. In reality proprietary programs often come for
      free (Adobe Reader, Chrome browser, Google Docs) and libre tools can also
      be made available for a fee (e.g. commercial GNU/Linux distrubutions).
      Many people associate programming with a business model where a customer
      is being sold a license for use of some proprietary program. Because such
      model is less practical in case of libre programs, some think their
      creation cannot be commercialized. However, most code — both libre and
      nonfree — is not being written with the goal of selling licenses for its
      use. Income often comes from different sources, such as selling services
      or hardware the program works with.
    {% endcall %}
  {% endcall %}

  {% call section('how-it-started') %}
    {{ header(2, 'Who came up with all this?') }}

    {% call para() %}
      In 1983
      {% call link('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stallman') -%}
        Richard Stallman
      {%- endcall %},
      a
      {% call link('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology') -%}
        MIT
      {%- endcall %}
      scientist, started the
      {{ link('https://www.gnu.org/', 'GNU project') }} with a goal of
      developing a libre replacement for proprietary UNIX system. 2 years later
      in Boston he founded the
      {{ link('https://www.fsf.org/', 'Free Software Foundation (FSF)') }} which
      still promotes and develops these ideals.
    {% endcall %}
  {% endcall %}

  {% call section('how-to-come-to-the-good-side') %}
    {{ header(2, 'How to come to the good side?') }}

    {% call para() %}
      You can help in many ways. For example by
    {% endcall %}

    {% call unordered_list() %}
      {% call list_entry() %}
        using libre programs on daily basis,
      {% endcall %}
      {% call list_entry() %}
        making others aware of the problem (you can link this site
        or the {{ link('https://fsf.org', 'FSF\'s site') }}),
      {% endcall %}
      {% call list_entry() %}
        refusing to use proprietary tools to the best of your ability,
      {% endcall %}
      {% call list_entry() %}
        complaining to vendors of proprietary programs asking for their source
        code to be released under some libre license,
      {% endcall %}
      {% call list_entry() %}
        calling on people in charge of various organizations and educational
        facilities to deploy a libre operating system and tools,
      {% endcall %}
      {% call list_entry() %}
        calling on politicians to enact laws good for software freedom
        (e.g. making code written for public money available under a libre
        license) and
      {% endcall %}
      {% call list_entry() %}
        {{ link('https://my.fsf.org/join', 'donating to the FSF') }} or various
        projects developing libre programs.
      {% endcall %}
    {% endcall %}
  {% endcall %}
{% endblock %}