[ubuntu-za] Is Ubuntu Appcentre end of the road for FOSS?

David Robert Lewis ethnopunk at telkomsa.net
Wed May 27 11:45:41 BST 2009


Ludolph wrote:
> On Tue, May 26, 2009 at 10:18 PM, David Robert Lewis
>   
>> Ludolph you are entitled to your opinion. I picked up on the story on
>> softpedia and fudzilla and then followed up the original which appears
>> to be stefanoforenza. I believe my conclusions are valid and the issues
>> I rise are a topic for serious debate. I wanted to share my posting and
>> blog with the mailing list, and believe I am within my rights to do so.
>> If there were no "tinfoil hat loonies" as you put it, there would be no
>> crazy Linux users. This is why they call it Mad Tux. So I am honoured to
>> be called such names and feel entitled to express my opinions.
>>     
>
> David thanks for the reply. But instead of just dropping a link onto a
> mailing list, wouldn't it have been better to add some content to your
> message, for example:
>
> """
> Hi guys I picked up a story via fudzilla and softpedia and blogged
> about it at htpp://xxx.xxx.com
>
> What do you guys think of the Ubuntu AppCenter?
> """
>
> But returning to your blog post, I have some points of my own:
>
> - The idea and design of the AppCenter was posted to the ubuntu wiki
> in 2005. Apple AppStore only went live in 2008.
>
> - Softpedia never mentioned AppStore, money, lock in or even
> commercial products. Fudzilla only implies money is involved.
>
> - I do not believe the AppCenter will replace synaptic, apt-get or the
> underlying dpkg packages. It will ten to one only build on the above
> mentioned packages and if you don't like the AppCenter you will not be
> forced to use it.
>
> - The original blog I posted contains a very positive look out for
> "better support for paid applications", and that alone was only a
> guest and on his wish-list of features he would like to see in
> AppCenter.
>
> So to me your conclusions looks a lot more negative and philosophical.
> Without any facts expect the original blog post and that is why I
> believe your article is spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt. Do the
> community really need that?
>
>   
Ludolph,

I don't want to sound alarmist, but Stefano's post/ is /all about the 
Appstore, and wouldn't it be great to unify all the separate installer 
elements into one application, which as it turns out, has been on the 
cards since 2005!

I stand by my posting on the subject. It's a problem for FOSS if 
Canonical is going down the Apple route. The pressure from proprietary, 
third-party software developers who will want security, a method of 
payment and law enforcement is surely growing, and becoming more 
aggresive the more Ubuntu becomes successful at taking away business 
that would otherwise go to Microsoft and Apple.

So we could end up with a system that compromises its principles for the 
sake of profit. I have serious doubts about the result of stripping away 
freedom in favour of the bottom line. Yes, Ubuntu has been all about 
community until now, but Canonical have yet to post a profit and its not 
going to come from Ubuntu One, which has also kicked up quite a fuss 
lately about copyright. 
<http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/05/18/ubuntu-one-service-stirs-open-source-controversy>

I therefore suggest alternatives to open exploitation of the Ubuntu 
community as a resource.

1. The Ransom Model
http://www.metafilter.com/42589/The-Ransom-Model
Which recognizes the rights of producers should not be indefinite.

2. Original Ubuntu Model
Essentially an agrarian, pre-Capitalist solution, similar to Communism, 
in which each produces according to his or her ability, and receives in 
kind from the community, there being no need for money or capital. Such 
communities also exist as Intentional Communities, and the intention of 
Ubuntu is surely to provide a system that is post-Capitalism, 
post-Scarcity, and based upon Mandela's Principle Number One?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_%28philosophy%29

3. Ethical Appcentre or Appstore
A system which does not simply turn users into consumers but which will 
allow for donations to causes, different methods of payment which do not 
involve the monetary system, such as the exchange of talents, and even 
Open Source economics such as P2P banking. Another eg. In exchange for 
giving valuable processor time to academic projects, users might receive 
credits from philanthropic donors, which could then be spent on 
commercial applications. Anything which avoids blind consumerism with 
the the horrible lock-down of Apple, BTW IMHO Steve Jobs is worse than 
Bill Gates.

I chose Ubuntu OS, not simply because it was free, but because 
participation = sharing, community, freedom. The price for participation 
in Ubuntu is your time and energy spent on forums, mailing lists, bug 
searches, sharing and developing. Let's keep this freedom alive and be 
vigilant about the pitfalls of consumerism.

DRL.







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