[ubuntu-us-ma] The Free Software, Open Source promise: what FOSS means for non-coders

[Danny Piccirillo]

>
> For me, the main challenge in explaining FOSS is that you also have to
> explain what software is, and how it is created.


This is exactly what i'm talking about

Most people just
> don't want that.  Someone can always just use FOSS, and then if they
> learn more about development, then they can learn more about software
> freedom.
>

FLOSS has two benefits: freedom, and better software. What i'm proposing is
a list of how FLOSS is better in both of these respects, with examples of
how proprietary software fudges up, and if this interests users, they could
read on to learn more about how it all works. Users who care about FLOSS for
one reason or another will stick with FLOSS. If they just use Firefox
because it's better than IE, they would have no incentive to use a FLOSS
product that is in all other respects equal to a proprietary one.

 On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 12:33 AM, Danny Piccirillo
> <danny.piccirillo at ubuntu.com> wrote:
> > A description plus examples of software that does not fulfil these
> promises.
> > Basically to help a non-coder understand how the free software ideals
> > actually manifest themselves.
> > One promise could be, we will never restrict your ability to share this
> > software.
> > Examples of stuff you can't share: Windows
> > On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 21:19, Martin Owens <doctormo at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> You need to define if you mean examples, description or one liners.
> >>
> >> I'm confused.
> >>
> >> On Tue, 2010-03-09 at 19:18 -0500, Danny Piccirillo wrote:
> >> > Spreading the ideals of FOSS is a bit difficult when we have to
> >> > explain how our tools respect freedom and why peer-review and our
> >> > methods create better software. I propose that we put together a solid
> >> > list of Free Software (Open Source) promises that people can expect
> >> > from FOSS tools. That is, a list of things that would never happen
> >> > with FOSS with examples of where it has happened with major
> >> > proprietary software. Example: DRM
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Thoughts?
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > .danny
> >> >
> >> > ☮♥Ⓐ - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
> >> > Every (in)decision matters.
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Ubuntu-us-ma mailing list
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> >
> >
> > But the philosophy *is* very important, and the people who are here
> because
> > of it (don't underestimate that number) are the passionate ones.
> > On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 21:53, James Gray <jamespgray at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> From my experience most users come to FOSS because they like the
> >> software and the community not because they like the philosophy.  Even
> >> a user friendly user interface takes time to learn and change usually
> >> comes with resistance.  Users need a motivation to change that they
> >> can get when they recognize the benefits and experience them directly
> >> rather then being presented in an abstract way.
> >>
> >> Target your audience - if you are speaking to arty types then present
> >> the multi-media compatibilities, if speaking to science folks then
> >> focus on the large amount of scientific software available.  Don't
> >> just talk about this software - show them.
> >>
> >> Just my two cents.
> >
> > --
> > .danny
> >
> > ☮♥Ⓐ - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
> > Every (in)decision matters.
> >
> > --
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> >
> >
>
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>



-- 
.danny

☮♥Ⓐ - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
Every (in)decision matters.
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