diff options
author | mms <michal@sapka.me> | 2024-07-09 00:21:40 +0200 |
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committer | mms <michal@sapka.me> | 2024-07-09 00:21:40 +0200 |
commit | c54a068132c7ff4d53db49459eed69c8646d1005 (patch) | |
tree | 4ef8246a88ea63d98e8c5cd0c0264ca106ac9c34 | |
parent | 01c8e61b467355dd31e35c4b218ecd7a308916de (diff) |
feat(blog): computing happy
-rw-r--r-- | content-org/blog.org | 166 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | content/blog/2024/computing-happy.md | 77 |
2 files changed, 242 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/content-org/blog.org b/content-org/blog.org index 6446fc9..614707b 100644 --- a/content-org/blog.org +++ b/content-org/blog.org @@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ #+HUGO_WEIGHT: auto #+HUGO_SECTION: blog -* 2024 [48/48] :@blog: +* 2024 [49/49] :@blog: :PROPERTIES: :EXPORT_HUGO_SECTION: blog/2024 :EXPORT_HUGO_CUSTOM_FRONT_MATTER+: :image_dir "blog/images" :image_max_width 600 @@ -15,6 +15,170 @@ :END: +** Free Software and the wrong crowd +:PROPERTIES: +:EXPORT_FILE_NAME: foss-wrong-crowd +:EXPORT_HUGO_CUSTOM_FRONT_MATTER+: :abstract An essey about Free Software and the "wrong crowd" for it +:END: + +Free Software is a movement aiming at changing the world. +Seize the means of computation! + + +#+begin_quote +Complete system sources will be available to everyone. +As a result, a user who needs changes in the system will always be free to make them himself, or hire any available programmer or company to make them for him. +Users will no longer be at the mercy of one programmer or company which owns the sources and is in sole position to make changes. + +[...] + +Copying all or parts of a program is as natural to a programmer as breathing, and as productive. It ought to be as free. + +-- [[https://www.gnu.org/gnu/manifesto.en.html][The GNU Manifesto, Richard Stallman, 1983]] +#+end_quote + +Stallman wrote it 40 years ago. +It's obvious that Open Source has won! +We have GNU/Linux, Redis, Android, Emacs. +Time to open champagne and dance on the grave of System V. +But is is really the best it's ever been? + +Personal computing is as widepsread as it never has been. +Virtually everyone, in every midly developed country has used a computer - even if in the form of a phone. +We are living in the world of tomorrow. + +And yes, open source software is the backbone of this world. +While there are still places where propetiery systems run the serverland, Linux is the default. +Most people don't even think about too deep. +Web services run Linux (be it GNU or not). +Install Linux on AWS, throw Docker on top of it, sprinkle with Kubernetess and boom - a startup was born. + +The desktop is also having a pinguin moment. +Steam gave it the biggest push towards mass appeal. +People can finally do their computing on a Linux machine - use the browser and play games. + +But note the trend here. +It's all intertwined with propietery software. +Linux popularity is not because it's free (as freedom), but /despite/ of it. +The push is happening because propetiery software can run on it! +I even think, that in 2024 Linux is actually free as in /free beer/. +It is owned by big tech, and while Linux still controls the kernel, he is paid by them. + +It made him a (very) rich man, but in the process broader Linux is less GNU. + +#+begin_quote + ... many people will program with absolutely no monetary incentive. + Programming has an irresistible fascination for some people, usually the people who are best at it. + There is no shortage of professional musicians who keep at it even though they have no hope of making a living that way. + + -- [[https://www.gnu.org/gnu/manifesto.en.html][The GNU Manifesto, Richard Stallman, 1983]] +#+end_quote + +And people clap, and party, and pat each other on the backs. +/Open Source/ is eating the world! +Even your phone most likely run a semi-open source operating system. + +But in reality, unless you are talkig with people into FOSS, they don't care about any idealogy behind the software. +Whatever makes them productive, or simply get the thing done. +Tinkering is just a nuasance, a problem one needs to overcome to do the thing. + +I got my firt computer at the age of 8. +A glorious MS-DOS running 386 beast. +When I saw my mother running a game, it was magical. +But my actual love started with me discovering scripting with .bat files. +Writing a dedicated runner for the games was almost as cool as those 8 following hours spend building my Civilization. +I had a huge grim when I changed the boring =C:/= promt to =Yes Master?=. + +You can no longer do any of that on the most popular computers. +Software freedom has significantly dicreased in those 30 years since I first started discovering computing. +It's much harder to adjust modern OS to own needs (or even run it without an internet account), than it was back then. +Yes, the first few steps are much more noob friendly. +The very /basics/ of using the computer are easy. +But to go furher? +To make the computer /your own/? +It's difficult! + +Try changing accent color to =poo-brown= in MacOS. +It's impossible, while my Windows 95 was gloriously ugly. + + +- freedom is limitted +- people are forbidden to participate +- folks clap happily + + +** DONE Computing happy +CLOSED: [2024-07-08 Mon 23:24] +:PROPERTIES: +:EXPORT_FILE_NAME: computing-happy +:EXPORT_HUGO_CUSTOM_FRONT_MATTER+: :abstract A short, 3-hour long video essay +:END: +One thing I've noticed about myself and my relationship with technology is that I care. +Not about productivity, getting stuff done and all those things. +I do them at my job, they pay bills. + +But what I actually want to do with computes is to have a damn good time. +This is why I am so peculiar when it comes to choosing software. +In my =meatsuit= life, I am the only person I know who uses Emacs or BSD. +There are some folks who used to us Emacs, some use Linux. +But I am on the far end of the popular-obscure software spectrum. + +I do this not because I like to make things harder to myself, but because I love tinkering. +Yes, I can get a clean MacBook into a working shape faster than my personal laptop, but it doesn't spark any joy. +Apple hardware and software in 2024 is devoid of any happiness. +It's boring, it's corporate, it =locked down=. +And while I understand why they pay me to use it, I don't enjoy it. + +But should work bring happiness? +It should not bring sorrow, that's for sure. +My previous job, 10 years ago, was a gruelling MS Office sadness fest. +It gave me a lot of spare time, but I really wanted to go into software development. + +And I did. +I learned Ruby on Rails and joined a software product company. +It was full of joy and excitement! +For the first few months, going to the office was /the shit/. + +But 10 years have passed. +I still enjoy what I do, and I like our product. +But does it spark any actual excitement? +I am not the same person I've been back then. + +I grew to love computers on a whole different level. +They are not a /tool/, but a /goal/. +And it all comes to this: I don't care if my software is making me productive. +I want to enjoy using it. +And for the last few years, this means only one thing: free software… and lack of web browser in between. + +That's the distinction between software I /have/ to use and which I /choose/ to use. +But this also means I look at the computer-crowd differently. +People I care about are not the ones who I cared about before. +I can proudly say, Apple is out of my bloodstream. +It /used/ to be great, but it became terrible even before I was earning enough to buy myself a Mac. +Currently, everyone I admire are on the other side of the FOSS battlefield. +Stallman is where it's at, not Jobs! +And most definitely not Nadella/Cook/Bezos/Musk/Zuck or whoever there is now. + +But this is me. +You may be entirely different. +You may /enjoy/ getting stuff done and be glad to be done with it. +Likewise, you make love that IntelliJ and spinning EC2 instances. +I get it. +I disagree fundamentally, but I get it. +It's the same with cars: there are people who know everything about them, and then there's me who only knows where my mechanic is. +And while I have no idea how to fix a car, I admire people who can do it. + +Similarly, I grew to /envy/ sysadmins. +Damn, how I wish I was administering a bunch of Open/Net/FreeBSD…. But wait! I do. +I don't get paid for it, but I do it on my personal infrastructure. +It all /ties together/: I choose the software which makes me happy, as computers are my only hobby. +And what a hobby would be, if it didn't bring me fun? + +Computes were a passion for many, and they still are for many people. +And that's what great about them. + +But really, sysadmins are amazing. + ** DONE The Rise and Fall of The Witcher CLOSED: [2024-07-05 Fri 11:23] :PROPERTIES: diff --git a/content/blog/2024/computing-happy.md b/content/blog/2024/computing-happy.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4daf3d --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2024/computing-happy.md @@ -0,0 +1,77 @@ ++++ +title = "Computing happy" +author = ["Michał Sapka"] +date = 2024-07-08T23:24:00+02:00 +categories = ["blog"] +draft = false +weight = 2002 +image_dir = "blog/images" +image_max_width = 600 +abstract = "A short, 3-hour long video essay" ++++ + +One thing I've noticed about myself and my relationship with technology is that I care. +Not about productivity, getting stuff done and all those things. +I do them at my job, they pay bills. + +But what I actually want to do with computes is to have a damn good time. +This is why I am so peculiar when it comes to choosing software. +In my `meatsuit` life, I am the only person I know who uses Emacs or BSD. +There are some folks who used to us Emacs, some use Linux. +But I am on the far end of the popular-obscure software spectrum. + +I do this not because I like to make things harder to myself, but because I love tinkering. +Yes, I can get a clean MacBook into a working shape faster than my personal laptop, but it doesn't spark any joy. +Apple hardware and software in 2024 is devoid of any happiness. +It's boring, it's corporate, it `locked down`. +And while I understand why they pay me to use it, I don't enjoy it. + +But should work bring happiness? +It should not bring sorrow, that's for sure. +My previous job, 10 years ago, was a gruelling MS Office sadness fest. +It gave me a lot of spare time, but I really wanted to go into software development. + +And I did. +I learned Ruby on Rails and joined a software product company. +It was full of joy and excitement! +For the first few months, going to the office was _the shit_. + +But 10 years have passed. +I still enjoy what I do, and I like our product. +But does it spark any actual excitement? +I am not the same person I've been back then. + +I grew to love computers on a whole different level. +They are not a _tool_, but a _goal_. +And it all comes to this: I don't care if my software is making me productive. +I want to enjoy using it. +And for the last few years, this means only one thing: free software… and lack of web browser in between. + +That's the distinction between software I _have_ to use and which I _choose_ to use. +But this also means I look at the computer-crowd differently. +People I care about are not the ones who I cared about before. +I can proudly say, Apple is out of my bloodstream. +It _used_ to be great, but it became terrible even before I was earning enough to buy myself a Mac. +Currently, everyone I admire are on the other side of the FOSS battlefield. +Stallman is where it's at, not Jobs! +And most definitely not Nadella/Cook/Bezos/Musk/Zuck or whoever there is now. + +But this is me. +You may be entirely different. +You may _enjoy_ getting stuff done and be glad to be done with it. +Likewise, you make love that IntelliJ and spinning EC2 instances. +I get it. +I disagree fundamentally, but I get it. +It's the same with cars: there are people who know everything about them, and then there's me who only knows where my mechanic is. +And while I have no idea how to fix a car, I admire people who can do it. + +Similarly, I grew to _envy_ sysadmins. +Damn, how I wish I was administering a bunch of Open/Net/FreeBSD…. But wait! I do. +I don't get paid for it, but I do it on my personal infrastructure. +It all _ties together_: I choose the software which makes me happy, as computers are my only hobby. +And what a hobby would be, if it didn't bring me fun? + +Computes were a passion for many, and they still are for many people. +And that's what great about them. + +But really, sysadmins are amazing. |