Open Source software (OSS) Should it be its own forum area?

Forums › Off topic › Open Source software (OSS) Should it be its own forum area?

nunz

1421 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#154386 26-Oct-2014 16:14

OSS is not just Linux / android. It covers a wide variety of platforms and apps being used by the majority of Geezone users and impacts on us every day.

Some examples.

AMPS - Apache, MySQL, Perl, PHP, - all open source and under pinning truckloads of the web
open Office, Dia, Kivio, - viable office alternatives with growing support
XBMC, OpenNAS, OwnCloud etc - adn other media brokers / file cloud servcies
HTML / CSS, JavaScript, Java, XHTML, XML - open standards we all use

PDFCreator, Filezilla, Putty, WinSCP, Gnutools, SSH, Dovecote, Postgres, tools we use or are used by us for mailing, pdf creation, etc.

The starting of the OSS systems in the early 90s or earlier talked about free (as in freedom, not free beer) but a lot of open sources went the way of the dodo as people like free and dont part easily with their money, even for donations. Recently advert supported sites, more aggressive asking for donations and the sale of services have been major makers of support for OSS - but this is changing how it is used and accessed.

Recently the hall of shame of OSS software is getting crowded with faeces ware being added to what were once great products.

PDFCreator / added tool bars and crud, but has now backed off that slippery slope to include add supported freeware and paid version without adverts.
FileZilla - seems every second or third link has antivirus systems popping up to remove spyware, keyloggers nad tool bars.
Filehippo, an excellent repository of great software is becoming unusable with more advert enhanced / crudware infected downloaders.

Help even Java is now trying to install that POS Ask toorbar on my dekstop with every update. Reminds me of Adobe slipping one the Mcafeee Finn in its 'free' adobe reader updates.

So - maybe a new channel? Whats free (truly free) whats not and some thoughts on how to help keep software truly free and still allow those making it to be fed and paid for their efforts.

But firstly, my newest entry into the hall of shame - filezilla - 1/2 to 1/3 links infected from sourceforge. Maybe sourceforge needs to up their game too if they are allowing this.

Shane

Yabanize

2350 posts

Uber Geek

#1162462 26-Oct-2014 16:40

When I installed java a couple of days ago it tried to install Ask toolbar too. I was like WTF Makes me not respect Oracle as much. Toolbars are honestly the worst thing. Worst than an anti virus trial. Have noticed this with some other software lately too.

This Program is good for preventing accidental toolbar etc installs. It automatically unticks boxes like that

timmmay

20574 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1162475 26-Oct-2014 16:50

Perhaps once discussion of OSS reaches a critical mass it would warrant it, but there are virtually no conversations about it right now so my opinion is probably not.

gzt

17104 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1162577 26-Oct-2014 20:55

I can see some need for an OSS desktop software forum and I expect it would attract more visitors.

But it would initially be extra work for the mods to constantly move desktop software related stuff posted in OSX, Windows, Linux, and decide what fits best.

There is no need to change Andriod, Linux, OSX, Windows operating system forums. Those fit the need very well.

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek

#1162619 26-Oct-2014 22:29

I can't see the point. OS is a licensing model used by some software. Until such time as the forum has enough discussions about software licenses and legalities, as opposed to features and usefulness of software, there is no need for a separate OSS forum on Geekzone, IMO.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79250 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#1162627 26-Oct-2014 22:38

nunz: OSS is not just Linux / android. It covers a wide variety of platforms and apps being used by the majority of Geezone users and impacts on us every day.

Some examples.

AMPS - Apache, MySQL, Perl, PHP, - all open source and under pinning truckloads of the web
open Office, Dia, Kivio, - viable office alternatives with growing support
XBMC, OpenNAS, OwnCloud etc - adn other media brokers / file cloud servcies
HTML / CSS, JavaScript, Java, XHTML, XML - open standards we all use
PDFCreator, Filezilla, Putty, WinSCP, Gnutools, SSH, Dovecote, Postgres, tools we use or are used by us for mailing, pdf creation, etc.

Interesting question but I will take the previous reply a bit further: any questions on these software you mention can easily be in the Desktop or IT Pros subforums as they will be related to the functionality or use case, not the licensing model.

gzt

17104 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1162705 27-Oct-2014 04:28

Elpie: I can't see the point. OS is a licensing model used by some software. Until such time as the forum has enough discussions about software licenses and legalities, as opposed to features and usefulness of software, there is no need for a separate OSS forum on Geekzone, IMO.

In addition there are support model implications in part arising from some licensing models. Free software typically relies on active enthusiast user communities to get new users started.

SirHumphreyAppleby

2844 posts

Uber Geek

#1162710 27-Oct-2014 07:27

Elpie: I can't see the point. OS is a licensing model used by some software. Until such time as the forum has enough discussions about software licenses and legalities, as opposed to features and usefulness of software, there is no need for a separate OSS forum on Geekzone, IMO.

I would rather not see yet more discussion on licences and legalities. Even defining truly free software (as per the original post) is a contentious enough issue.

As with others, I see no reason for a distinction being made between licence models.