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{#
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 %}
|
