by drummyfish » 03 Jan 2021, 15:47
Interesting question!
If you have some time and are talking to a more interested person, I think the point of free software is NOT that actually you, as a programmer, are personally able to study and modify your tools (you are actually very able to do this with proprietary software). Even as a programmer, you are using many FOSS tools that you don't and can't understand, haven't studied their security attributes, the math behind them etc. The point is that, unlike with proprietary SW, a lot of independent people on Earth, many times the users of the software, can relatively easily check the tools, modify them and share them for you, thanks to which you can trust that these tools follow the interest of you, the users. You may have very good trust that these tools won't spy on you, that they won't be artificially killed or infected by features malicious in any way, simply because thanks to their transparency and legal modifiability if there is an issue of any kind (not just bugs), there is a very high probability of someone fixing it, and that the goal of the development is to benefit the users, i.e. you. So, whether you are a programmer or not is very irrelevant, the point is that the SW is fixable by many of the programmers in the world, not you personally.
If you only need a few quick points to throw at someone, or the person just needs quick selling points, there are many:
- It's gratis (not the goal but as a side effect).
- No spyware, safer, respecting privacy.
- No ads (typicially).
- No forced updates, restarts etc.
- Extremely modifiable, everything can be turned off if you don't want it/need it.
- Very often more efficient and optimized.
- Usually multiplatform, runs on anything it can run on.
- You physically own the copy, no need for cracks, it is on your computer and you can freely copy it to any other computer.
- Typically more lightweight.
- No bullshit (e.g. forced internet connection, ...).
- Not controlled by a corporation (likely won't be forcefully killed, intentionally incompatible etc.).
- More trusted, used and supported by professionals (scientists, hackers, programmers, ...), for a good reason.
- Made by users for the users.
Now when talking about these points, I'd rather use the term free SW, as "open-source" as a business-first concept often doesn't follow these.
If the person is interested, don't forget to also mention the extension of these principles to HW and culture.