7 Matching Annotations
  1. Apr 2024
  2. Mar 2024
    1. To emphasize that “free software” refers to freedom and not to price, we sometimes write or say “free (libre) software,” adding the French or Spanish word that means free in the sense of freedom. In some contexts, it works to use just “libre software.”

      My second language is Spanish, and I understand quite well what 'Libre' means. In my view, there's no real difference between FLOSS and FOSS, since 'Free' translates to 'Libre'. However, when 'Free' pertains solely to 'price', it's more accurate to use 'Gratis', which means 'No Cost'.

      Additionally, considering that words can have multiple meanings in English as well, I question the necessity of incorporating an 'L' from another language into an English acronym. Instead of complicating the acronym, I believe in giving a clear explanation.

  3. Oct 2019
  4. Dec 2016
    1. Should open source projects look like companies? Of course not. For one thing, a company is a business, and an open source project is a community, with very different goals and needs.
    2. There is little support for functions that directly help code, like documentation or test automation. There is even less support for functions that indirectly help code, like community or evangelism.

      Paradógicamente, eso último es lo que más hemos hecho en comunidades de software libre ubicadas lugares del Sur Global, como Colombia, con proyectos como El Directorio, (wiki de documentación), eventos como el FLISoL o SLUD (difusión y evangelismo) , pero no acaban de ser vistos con buenos ojos. Siempre termina siendo más importante el código. El "Talk is cheap, show me the code" fue tomado muy literalmente, cuando lo que implica es compromiso (de diversas maneras) y no sólo código.

      Un cambio se empieza a ver: el código ya no es tan lejano, sin volverse central (afortunadamente), algunos proyectos de difusión y documentación están siendo retomados e incluso valdría la pena pensar en qué sería necesario para revivir proyectos de documentación como El Directorio, y crear variaciones y nuevas reinterpretaciones del mismo en los tiempos actuales.

    3. When we think of open source’s influence on software, we tend to think about the legal implications. Open source made it acceptable to share, use and modify software freely.But open source changed how software companies build proprietary products, too. That open source principles are being used to develop closed source software speaks volumes about its cultural legacy.