Starting a better movement
Posted: 26 Jun 2021, 04:30
So, I quit free software movement and I've been back to proprietary software, mostly Steam, for some time. I had time to reflect on both proprietary software, free software and open source and why I dislike all of them. I finally came to a conclusion that I would prefer to start a better movement grounded in reality that avoids all the mistakes previous movements did. Temporary name for this movement is "socialist software". It is based on a few core observations:
Thus are the core principles:
This is very work in progress. I will probably alter a bunch of things after I get to the coherent position. But I want to hear your thoughts on what I have right now.
- Capitalism is bad but it will take a while to get rid of it.
- Most people use software for entertainment.
- Most people use the software on the phone and use touchscreen as a primary means of interacting with software.
- Most people don't read EULAs or fine print.
- People (including software developers) deserve things needed for survival such as food, clothes, shelter, healthcare, safe space and entertainment.
Thus are the core principles:
- If software is designed for entertainment, it shouldn't discriminate against proprietary content but provide means to shield the user from malicious features of proprietary content such as DRM and analytics.
- Software shouldn't discriminate. Examples: Terminal-only software discriminates against intellectually and/or mentally disabled people. It also discriminates against people using phones and tablets. Git and PGP discriminate against women and transpeople who don't want their deadname to be stored anywhere.
- Software and its source code should be freely redistributable. There shouldn't be any restrictions against modifying software and distributing modified versions. Distribution on the Internet shouldn't be behind a paywall.
- There should be means of securing well-being of socialist software developers. Via donations or otherwise.
- Software should be written in a way that encourages cooperation among developers. This includes not using elitist languages such as C and providing extensive documentation. Intellectually and/or mentally disabled software developers are still software developers.
This is very work in progress. I will probably alter a bunch of things after I get to the coherent position. But I want to hear your thoughts on what I have right now.