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| author | Andrew Yu <andrew@andrewyu.org> | 2022-07-26 02:05:15 +0800 |
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| committer | Andrew Yu <andrew@andrewyu.org> | 2022-07-26 02:05:15 +0800 |
| commit | 0728786c3d82dc74b5906453a11748a88409073a (patch) | |
| tree | 668ffee2ea9eae34d0bfec132ed1c53492e45e4d /article | |
| parent | dee82950985be7ae03f3f969117fbb75e7c311f6 (diff) | |
| download | www-0728786c3d82dc74b5906453a11748a88409073a.tar.gz | |
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diff --git a/article/nh.html b/article/nh.html deleted file mode 100644 index 652e591..0000000 --- a/article/nh.html +++ /dev/null @@ -1,94 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> - <head> - <title>New Hampshire's Software Freedom Legislation</title> - <link rel="stylesheet" href="/favor.css" /> - </head> - <body> - <div id="main"> - <h1>Please support the Free Software Movement. The state of New Hampshire may be incorporating software freedom into its law.</h1> - <p>Jan 13, 2022.</p> - <p>This article is incomplete. The original article which I based this off is at <a href="https://libreboot.org/news/usa-libre.html">https://libreboot.org/news/usa-libre.html</a> by Leah Rowe. This article is a "fork" of that article and contains parts of it. Thanks to everybody who contributed to this event and supports software freedom. I'd recommend reading the original one, too.</p> - <div id="majornote"> - <p>For the general public: In this article, I explain what's happening in New Hampshire, why software freedom matters to you and the society in general, and what you could do to help us in this battle.</p> - <p>For supporters of the free software movement: Please read this. As far as I know, this is the first time software freedom as we know it is proposed as a bill for law. Thank you so much.</p> - </div> - <p><a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/what-is-free-software">Free software</a> is software that gives you the user the freedom to share (original or modified), study and modify it. Copyleft is a copyright-based method at preventing people from turning free software into proprietary software.</p> - <p>Since the beginning of the free software movement, we've been advocating for the use of free software. Showing people the freedom (and power) they have in GNU/Linux and the BSDs, many power users replaced nonfree software with free software. Now, at least 90% of servers worldwide run <a href="https://gnu.org">GNU/Linux</a>. My personal one runs <a href="https://OpenBSD.org">OpenBSD</a>.</p> - <p>But ultimately, it's <em>the people</em> who use software. Not every user knows how to fiddle around with computers, not every user can take individual advantage of the freedom to study and change the software. Along with the lack of advertising, we've been alive—but invisible to the public.</p> - <p>The use of proprietary software in government and social activities, especially mandatory tasks, by law or social, such as <a href="https://lists.libreplanet.org/archive/html/libreplanet-discuss/2021-10/msg00011.html">educatioon</a> and medical services, including <a href="https://lists.libreplanet.org/archive/html/libreplanet-discuss/2021-08/msg00008.html">COVID vaccination</a>, and especially <a href="https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2020/spring/trial-by-proprietary-software">trial in courts with proprietary software</a>, are unjust because by fulfilling these responsibilities, as defined by law, we are giving up essential freedoms, defined but unprotected by law, which can be avoided.</p> - <p>If you live in New Hampshire or in one of the neighbouring states, especially Massachusetts, please listen up! If you are further away and unable to reach New Hampshire all that easily, please spread the following news anyway. It's important. As alien as it may seem to many of the readers, I'm actually writing parts of this article as though someone who has never heard of Free Software is reading it, because I expect precisely that such people <em>will</em> read this particular article.</p> - <div class="h"><h2 id="whats-happening-in-new-hampshire">What's happening in New Hampshire?</h2></div> - <p>An important bill is being proposed in New Hampshire, which would enshrine much of what we know as Free Software <em>into law</em>. Here is the proposed bill, technically named "HB1273":<br /> - <a href="https://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2022&id=1363&txtFormat=html" class="uri">https://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2022&id=1363&txtFormat=html</a></p> - <p>You can read it for yourself, but here is a paraphrasing of what it proposes:</p> - <ul> - <li><em>Specifically</em> bans state-run websites from serving non-free javascript to clients</li> - <li>Creates a commission to provide oversight, watching the use of Free Software by state agencies</li> - <li>Bans state agencies from using proprietary software - maybe this could include schools, in the future!</li> - <li>If a person is tried in a criminal case, they have the right to audit the source code of any proprietary software that collects evidence against them</li> - <li>Encourages data portability (able to transfer data from one program to another)</li> - <li>Bans certain non-compete clauses and NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) pertaining to Free Software projects</li> - <li>Bans state/local law enforcement from assisting with the enforcement of copyright claims against Free Software projects</li> - <li>Bans state agencies from purchasing non-free software if free software exists, for a given task</li> - </ul> - <p>However, this is only a short summary. You are advised to read the bill in detail. It's not very long.</p> - <p>At first glance, it may not seem that the bill affects individuals, but don't be fooled; this is a hugely positive step forward for everyone! If the state is using Free Software, that most likely means it'll be used in education aswell.</p> - <p>Although perhaps not immediately and readily apparent, this is a stake in the heart of proprietary software's current dominance, because it would remove one key element of its attack against us; its abuse of education services.</p> - <p>If education services are using Free Software, that means they'll probably have children (the ones being educated) using it too. This is a <em>huge</em> step, and it will result in more Free Software developers in the future. Free Software will become more and more mainstream to the masses, which can surely only be a good thing!</p> - <p>Freedom is always superior. The more people that have it, the better off we all are, because freedom is also collective; it relies on others around us also having it, so that we can defend each other. We fought for our rights before, when we founded modern nations—democracies—so that we the people have inalienable rights of our own, our basic human rights, and not to have dictatorships and monarchs who may violate them. Slowly, subtlely, but very effectively, proprietary software is taking away the freedoms we always fought for. What we fought for, for seven centuries, would be gone in the matter of decades. If more people have it, especially if it results in more Free Software developers in the future, that's one thing, but imagine if <em>more</em> states like what they see and start to copy the new legislation.</p> - <p>Now imagine that countries besides the US start doing it, inspired by the US's success (and I think it will be a resounding success).</p> - <p>Imagine a world where <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html">Free Software</a>, free as in freedom, is the default everywhere. Imagine a world where <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html">Free Software licensing</a> is required reading material in schools. <em>Imagine a world where any five year old can install a free operating system such as GNU+Linux, and Computer Science is mandatory in schools from a young age. Imagine filing your tax returns with Free Software, exclusively. Imagine not even thinking about that, because it became the norm.</em></p> - <p><em>Imagine a world where proprietary software doesn't exist, because it is obsolete; entire generations of people are taught to value freedom, and to staunchly defend it, helping each other learn and grow (and produce better software in the process, with less bugs, because people are now free to do that, without relying on some evil company).</em></p> - <p>Imagine a world where you're no longer being spied on because NSA, Apple and Microsoft no longer have backdoor access to your computer. <em>Imagine having the ability to say no, because that's what freedom is. Try to imagine it!</em></p> - <p>Free Software is a revolution that we in the Free Software movement have rigorously upheld and fought for, over many years, but we still face an uphill battle because children are not taught in schools about free computing, nor are they encouraged to learn; they are taught to view computers as <em>products</em> to throw away every 1-2 years, that they can run a few <em>apps</em> on but otherwise are not allowed to do anything with. The <em>concept</em> of a <em>general purpose, fully reprogrammable computer</em> is heavily suppressed in mainstream culture. <em>Most</em> people in the world do not run a free operating system; the idea of a computer being a mere <em>appliance</em> is normalized (as opposed to the idea of it being a highly liberating tool for development and the expansion of human knowledge).</p> - <p><em>This</em> is what we in the Free Software movement have fought for over the years. We believe that knowledge is a human right, that the ability to share, study, learn, adapt and modify the software is an inalienable right that everyone must have. <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html">The four freedoms are absolute.</a></p> - <p>One of our biggest problem has been simply that schools and governments do not teach people about free computing. The right to learn, the right to read and the right to hack. Our governments are made up of human beings just like you or me, and they can be bought/corrupted; Microsoft, Apple and many others (such as IBM) have done this for years, having the national infrastructures governing us run on their proprietary systems, instead of systems that respect freedom; it is essential that these systems run free software, because a free and democratic society should expect nothing less. Those companies buy influence <em>and they own your politicians</em>.</p> - <p>All of this could change very soon. Something is happening in New Hampshire, which could redefine our movement and give <em>free software</em> real power instead.</p> - <div class="h"><h2 id="how-to-help">HOW TO HELP</h2></div> - <div class="h"><h3 id="testify-in-support-of-the-bill">TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL</h3></div> - <p><strong>The reading of the bill is happening on 11 January 2022. This is when you should go to New Hampshire.</strong></p> - <p><strong>Location of hearing: Legislative Office Building in Concord, New Hampshire:<br /> - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire_Legislative_Office_Building" class="uri">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire_Legislative_Office_Building</a></strong></p> - <p>The organizer of the proposed bill, <em>Eric Gallager</em>, has left instructions on Twitter. The following is a <em>nitter</em> link, which lets you view the relevant Twitter thread without running non-free Javascript in your browser:<br /> - <a href="https://nitter.net/cooljeanius/status/1479663133207764992" class="uri">https://nitter.net/cooljeanius/status/1479663133207764992</a></p> - <p>The original Twitter URL is:<br /> - <a href="https://twitter.com/cooljeanius/status/1479663133207764992" class="uri">https://twitter.com/cooljeanius/status/1479663133207764992</a></p> - <p>Further instructions for what room to go to, when you get there:<br /> - </p> - <p>See Nitter link:<br /> - <a href="https://nitter.net/cooljeanius/status/1479062316532604930" class="uri">https://nitter.net/cooljeanius/status/1479062316532604930</a></p> - <p>(original twitter link: <a href="https://twitter.com/cooljeanius/status/1479062316532604930" class="uri">https://twitter.com/cooljeanius/status/1479062316532604930</a>)</p> - <p><strong>Please read both threads very carefully!</strong></p> - <p><strong>YOU NEED TO GO TO NEW HAMPSHIRE IN PERSON!</strong></p> - <p>If you're able to go to New Hampshire to attend the reading of the bill, please do so! Voice your support of the bill, and say why you think it's important.</p> - <p>Tell the lawmakers that you demand freedom!</p> - <p>This thread on Twitter is where Eric announced that the reading of the bill is to proceed (original Twitter URL):<br /> - <a href="https://twitter.com/cooljeanius/status/1479555737223413760" class="uri">https://twitter.com/cooljeanius/status/1479555737223413760</a></p> - <div class="h"><h3 id="more-statescountries-will-follow">More states/countries will follow</h3></div> - <p>If this bill is passed in New Hampshire, more states will likely follow. It will lead to a massively renewed drive to liberate all computer users, and US laws tend to be copied/pasted around the world too.</p> - <p>This bill, if passed, will have a hugely positive impact on Free Software at a global level.</p> - <p>You <em>must</em> support this bill. If you want to see it pass, please go to New Hampshire on 11 January 2022 to make sure your voice is heard.</p> - <div class="h"><h3 id="our-enemies-will-be-there">OUR ENEMIES WILL BE THERE</h3></div> - <p>The <em>proprietary</em> software companies like Microsoft and Apple will also be there, trying to argue the case <em>against</em> the use of Free Software.</p> - <p>There is already precedent; please watch this video, which shows how Microsoft (for example) might behave in the reading of the bill. This video is from a discussion within the European Union, several years ago:<br /> - <a href="https://vid.puffyan.us/watch?v=W_S0k1sx8EM" class="uri">https://vid.puffyan.us/watch?v=W_S0k1sx8EM</a> (invidious link. works without javascript enabled, if you wish)</p> - <p>They will try to trick the law makers by claiming things such as:</p> - <ul> - <li><strong>"Free software is insecure / you will get hacked"</strong> - nothing could be further from the truth! Free operating systems such as GNU+Linux, FreeBSD and especially OpenBSD, are among the most secure operating systems available.</li> - <li><strong>"Free software is used by criminal hackers"</strong> - here, they use the term <em>hacker</em> to describe someone who illegally gains access to someone elses computer. Don't fall for it. Maintainers of free operating systems like GNU+Linux distros or the BSDs are actively working to make the internet and computers in general <em>more secure</em></li> - <li><strong>"Software authors deserve to be paid!"</strong> - In fact, many free software devs are <em>paid</em> to work on Free Software! Many companies, including big ones, work on it. There are also hobbyists or otherwise unpaid people, who might work on Free Software for a number of reasons (wanting to make the world a better place, wanting the glory of recognition for solving a major problem, and more often than not, simply because <em>it is fun to do so and you make a lot of friends too!</em>) - No, these companies (e.g. Microsoft) are only arguing in reality for the ability to pay their <em>shareholders</em>, and they control the software exclusively. In fact, free software has repeatedly and consistently over the years <em>defined</em> the computing industry, creating all kinds of new employment opportunities; for example, docker is widely used today and it is free software, used by millions of companies for commercial gain, and the apache web server revolutionized the web back in the day, enabling lots of ISPs to easily host websites - many of the common protocols that we depend upon today, that businesses depend upon (and get paid to maintain or provide services/support for) are in fact free as in freedom!</li> - <li><strong>"Developers should get recognition for their work"</strong> - in free software, you can easily make a name for yourself with relatively few resources except your own computer and an internet connection, plus some cheap hosting. When most developers work on <em>proprietary</em> software such as Windows, they don't get recognition; their copyright is assigned to their employer (e.g. Microsoft) who will take all the credit!</li> - <li><strong>"Free software is unreliable / costly to maintain"</strong> - actually, it has been well known for years that free software is generally more stable and reliable than proprietary. In cases where it isn't, it is quickly improved, and in complete freedom. Free software has a lower cost to maintain and service, and you have a free market where you can choose who you hire to write/maintain it for you (if you won't do that yourself); meanwhile, proprietary software such as Windows is often full of bugs, crashes often and there is only one provider of support most of the time, who will charge a heavy price, while also charging a lot of money for the software itself - free software is <em>free as in freedom</em>, but also usually <em>free as in zero price</em>.</li> - <li><strong>"Free software comes from potentially untrustworthy sources"</strong> - This is pure nonsense, because the very freedoms provided by free software (access to source code, ability to work on it yourself, and see what others did) means that people generally do not add malware to public software sources, because they'd be discovered instantly. <em>Distributions</em> of GNU+Linux and other free operating systems are often maintained by many people, who verify the safety of each software package that they provide; they are also usually provided by each <em>distro</em>, in a central repository unlike with, say, Windows where you really <em>are</em> randomly executing binaries from all kinds of locations (often even without checking the cryptographic checksums of those files, to verify their integrity). It's very hard to become infected with malware on a free system, precisely because security is handled much better; the design of unix-like operating systems in particular is also naturally more secure, due to better separation of root/user privileges.</li> - <li><strong>"Free software isn't controlled, and is unknown."</strong> - this is completely false. These non-free software companies are only talking about <em>their</em> control, and it's quite telling that they completely disregard yours, in this very sentence. In fact, Free Software <em>is</em> controlled, but it's not controlled by some external entity; <em>your</em> installation of free software is controlled by <em>you</em>.</li> - </ul> - <p>If you're familiar with the <em>Matrix</em> films, proprietary operating systems like Windows/MacOS are basically like the Matrix; bland, no individuality, no independent thought, everything tightly controlled. By contrast, free operating systems (such as GNU+Linux distributions or the BSDs) are like zion/io; vibrant, full of life, buzzing with activity, everything loose and free, and everyone is different (a highly diverse culture of people from all walks of life, acting in common cause but nonetheless individuals).</p> - <p>Meanwhile, Windows is known to have backdoors. Microsoft actively informs the NSA about how to exploit them, so that it can break into people's computers and steal private data.</p> - <p>Proprietary software companies are evil, and must be opposed. They know that if this bill passes, their days are numbered.</p> - <p>Defend freedom! Don't listen to any of the arguments against it by proprietary software companies; they don't care about you, and instead only care about profit. They fundamentally do not want you to have any sort of freedom over your own computer, and they actively pursue tactics (such as DRM) to thwart you.</p> - <p>Microsoft and Apple are not your friends. There is no such thing as the Windows community. When you use proprietary systems, you are isolated from everyone around you, and so are they. <em>You</em> are the product, for the non-free software to exploit at the behest of their developers who only care about <em>money</em>.</p> - <p>However, there <em>is</em> such a thing as the Free Software community. It is a vibrant community, consisting of millions of people collectively all over the world, and they are all free to work with each other infinitely. It gave us most of the technology that we take for granted today, including <em>the modern internet, where ISPs run free software almost exclusively!</em></p> - </div> - </body> -</html> diff --git a/article/pragmatic-use-of-nonfree-software.html b/article/pragmatic-use-of-nonfree-software.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a3dcaea --- /dev/null +++ b/article/pragmatic-use-of-nonfree-software.html @@ -0,0 +1,126 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title>Pragmatic Use of Nonfree Software</title> + <link rel="stylesheet" href="/plain.css" /> + <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" /> + </head> + <body> + <h1>Pragmatic Use of Nonfree Software</h1> + <h2>Abstract</h2> + + <p> + Free Software is undoubtably a good thing for society. However, modern computer users are stuck in the proprietary ``ecosystem'' for historical reasons. This document describes the justification and best current practices of using proprietary platforms to spread the ideas of Free Software. + </p> + + <h2>Status of This Memo</h2> + + <p> + This document describes the author's viewpoint. This does not represent the ideas of the Free Software Foundation or any other entity. Distribution of this memo is unlimited. + </p> + + <h2>Introduction</h2> + + <p> + Readers of this memo probably understand the ideals of the Free Software Movement, and avoid proprietary software when possible. However, as most outsiders are unaware and are deeply buried inside the proprietary dystopia created by mostly multibillion-dollar technology corporations, our methods of communicating with the masses are ineffective. + </p> + + <p> + In February 2022, the author decided to permit limited usage of nonfree chat platforms to hopefully spread our ideas to the general public. This was attempted by registering a Discord account, creating a Guild called ``Free Software Introductions'', and setting up a basic Discord-to-IRC relay to #fsi on both irc.andrewyu.org and irc.libera.chat. + </p> + + <p> + One of the communities that he knows about, the VF-Technic Minetest community, primarily uses Discord as a means of communication by players not in-game. As the users inside are Minetest players, a Free Software voxel sandbox game, similar to but much more flexible and freedom-respecting than Minecraft, it is believed that the users have some contact with Free Software, although they might not understand the freedom part of the issue, i.e. they might be thinking in terms of ``open source'' instead, and do not understand the harms of nonfree JavaScript and services like Discord. After sharing the invite link in the VF-Technic Guild, some people joined, and we've partially converted two users. + </p> + + <h2>Justification</h2> + + <p> + There are numerous free replacements to proprietary services such as Discord, such as Internet Relay Chat, the Extensible Messaging and Presense Protocol, the Matrix protocol, and email. As Free Software activists, we generally prefer these protocols over nonfree services. This section explains the reasons to consider nonfree services and protocols. + </p> + + <p> + Generally, users on IRC and XMPP have a fair understanding of the Free Software Movement, and it is quick and easy to inform them what we mean by ``free'', ``the four freedoms'', and similar ideas. For users on the Libera Chat IRC network, which by far has the most users of any network, it is exceptionally easy to introduce a user into the #fsf channel for discussions with people supporting Free Software. Introducing ignorant users on these protocols and platforms are a day-to-day simple task. Furthermore, the amount of users we can reach on these protocols are rather limiting. Libera has around forty thousand users according to the `LUSERS` command, and considering the fact that around 90% of these people aren't ignorant, there isn't much we can do. + </p> + + <p> + Matrix users, in particular users of the matrix.org homeserver, typically know but don't completely understand Free Software. Rather than using Matrix IDs to identify users, the Matrix specification specifies that third-party platform identities, such as email and GitHub, are how users should be referenced both internally by servers and shown to other users. This is obviously an increadibly foolish idea, especially considering the use of centralized identity servers (similar to X509 certificate authorities) for 3PIDs. These are our first targets, but these should also be easy to get the idea across. + </p> + + <p> + It is true that Libera Chat and similar IRC networks, though multi-centered in a technical way (i.e. multiple IRC servers form an IRC network), the network is politically centralized, controlled by one entity, Libera. The Internet Relay Chat server-to-server protocol implies that servers fully trust each other and are expected to not send damaging commands, which in turn implies full trust between server operators, no federation, and political centralization. The privacy policy and network policy of Libera Chat are non-intrusive, therefore the use of which is acceptable and is promoted by the FSF. (Obviously, most methods of using IRC do not involve nonfree software.) + </p> + + <p> + We currently find it hard to continue spreading basic knowledge among the masses through free communication protocols. + </p> + + <p> + Those that have never touched Free Software are often on giant proprietary platforms, and take these as universal methods of communication. Many people go months before checking their mailbox (physical or electronic), refuse to use XMPP or IRC for its age. + </p> + + <p> + There is one special case where using some nonfree software, and even urging others to use it, can be a positive thing. That's when the use of the nonfree software aims directly at putting an end to the use of that very same nonfree software. The author believes that the following fall within this scope: + </p> + + <ul> + <li>Developing a free project that requires nonfree environments to bootstrap.</li> + <li>To spread awareness of software freedom issues to users in nonfree environments.</li> + </ul> + + <p> + As almost all types of development can be done on most types of BSD and GNU operating systems, the author hasn't found any software that fit this category. Extending the interpretation allows for using nonfree software's behavior as a reference in Free Software development, though an arguable programming practice, may help the community to progress by understanding common features that users of nonfree services use. + </p> + + <p> + The latter is more interesting, as explained above our methods of spreading awareness is limited. Conservative usage of nonfree platforms may bring us more users, and chances for more of the general public to be enlightened. + </p> + + <h2>Current Practices</h2> + + <p> + Activists <b>MUST NOT</b> list such nonfree services in ``Contact Information'' pages on their website or similar sources, unless followed by a explanation that the purpose of the nonfree platform is to introduce users thereof onto free protocols and to eventually exterminate the nonfree platform. Whenever these references to nonfree platforms appear, the author <b>MUST</b> present free methods of communication. Activists <b>SHOULD</b> pragmatically use as many of the popular free protocols as possible, to ensure that oppurtunities of introductions are not lost. In cases involving competition between free and nonfree protocols and platforms, ethical concerns (i.e. enabling talking to a new user on any ethical platform) <b>MUST</b> take precedence over technical concerns (such as disliking the XMPP protocol for its inefficent use of XML). + </p> + + <p> + Communities for introducing users to Free Software on nonfree platforms <b>MUST</b> be bridged to a free protocol in some obvious way, in order to minimize the usage of nonfree platforms even for the purpose of communicating ideology to new users and allow members of the Free Software community refusing to use nonfree platforms in any way to participate. Usages of nonfree platforms, besides part of the user-introduction process that must happen on the nonfree platform, <b>SHOULD</b> be avoided. Free clients, if available, <b>SHOULD</b> be used, although many times usage is technically cumbersome. + </p> + + <p> + When both (all) sides of the communication are happy using a free protocol, proprietary platforms <b>MUST NOT</b> be used. + </p> + + <p> + During communications with users of nonfree platforms, activists <b>SHOULD</b> ask them what features of the nonfree platforms are attractive to the user, besides having more users. This allows the community to take usage by the general population into account when developing new software or specifications. + </p> + + <p> + For example, the author created a Discord Guild called Free Software Introductions, which is one-way-puppeted to #fsi on irc.andrewyu.org, which is then one-way-puppeted to Libera. The relay system is sort-of messed up, but it's working. Inviting new users to such Guilds (https://discord.gg/7CYp7ntww7) when perse refuses to or is ignorant on how to use IRC helps conveying our ideas to users, but as the author has made their own ``sacrifice'' already, there exists less of a need for other existing Free Software activists to join and use it instead of free protocols. + </p> + + <h2>Technical Limitations</h2> + + <p> + The old and centralized nature of IRC, the insane 3PID recommendation of Matrix, the bad routing and efficency of XMPP, and the lack of documentation on PSYC, has led us to develop a new protocol, Internet Delay Chat, which aims to be free, modern (i.e. support for channel groups and shared permission sets, non-text data with MIME types), sane (i.e. TCP, UDP and SCTP-based, instead of HTTP POST APIs) and simple. + </p> + + <p> + Outsiders may point at these actions as cringeworthy because we are depending on things we are against to achieve our goals. In this situation, showing them this article should suffice. + </p> + + <h2>Conclusion</h2> + + <p> + The Free Software Community is constantly evolving; the majority of computer users haven't heard of us. While we improve our software, it is important that our ideology and philosophy is sent out of our internal circle. This demonstrates the neccessity for momentarily sacrificing our own principle for the greater good while minimizing the harms of such pragmatic usage of nonfree software. + </p> + + <h2>Informative Links</h2> + <ul> + <li><a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/is-ever-good-use-nonfree-program.en.html">Richard Stallman on this issue</a></li> + </ul> + <div id="footer"> + <hr /> + <p><a href="/">Andrew Yu's Website</a></p> + </div> + </body> +</html> diff --git a/article/template.html b/article/template.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..74510b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/article/template.html @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title><++></title> + <link rel="stylesheet" href="/plain.css" /> + <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" /> + </head> + <body> + <h1><++></h1> + <div id="main"> + <++> + </div> + <div id="footer"> + <hr /> + <p><a href="/">Andrew Yu's Website</a></p> + </div> + </body> +</html> |