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+title = "Ladybird is a thing now"
+author = ["Michał Sapka"]
+date = 2024-07-03T16:36:00+02:00
+categories = ["blog"]
+draft = false
+weight = 2001
+image_dir = "blog/images"
+image_max_width = 600
+abstract = "I am cautionary optimistic"
++++
+
+**This is not a post about social issues. Those are a thing for different time**
+
+[Just a few days ago](/blog/2024/leaving-firefix-behind/) I published a post about me leaving Firefox behind.
+One of the alternatives I've mentioned was [Ladybird.](https://ladybird.org/)
+And a lot has changed since then.
+
+Ladybird started as a part of Serenity OS, but recently the main dev left the OS part and decided to fully focus on the browser.
+And now he has a million dollars secured for development.
+He even hired (HIRED!) full-time developers.
+Hell has frozen over; there is a viable way out of Mozilla/Google duopoly.
+I _am_ excited, but there are three things that makes me worry.
+It's not that they have money, or that the money comes from a billionaire.
+They are attacking a moving target, and Google can break the web faster than the can try to fix it.
+Any help is welcome.
+
+But they use Discord!
+And Microsoft GitHub!
+Ladybird is to be the viable alternative to things breaking the web, but they have decided that using the same forces is OK?
+And even ignoring ethics, having all knowledge in a Discord is a risky game.
+I can find solutions to a million issues in BSD because they use mailing lists—a medium that is open, resilient, and publicly searchable.
+None of this applies to Discord.
+
+But hey, Microsoft GitHub is the standard, right?
+I'd love if they used a suitable alternative, but it's the easiest way for folks to participate.
+Every developer has a Microsoft GitHub account, so why not?
+
+Well, just _forcing_ people to pass their private data to Microsoft and Discord is a huge red flag.
+Tracking business is web's biggest problem, and _not_ using a browser made for AD targeting is one of the reasons I'll try Ladybird on day 1.
+But to participate in the community, one needs to feed that machine?
+
+Furthermore, their new web page is pretty terrible.
+It looks like every startup hungry for more VC bucks.
+They even have a new, forgettable logo.
+Pretty considerable downgrade if you ask me.
+
+{{< image class="centered" alt="A blue, minimalist on the left. An ladybird on top shaded earth on the right." file="ladybird-new-old.png" >}}
+New, boring to the left.
+Cool, classic to the right.
+{{< /image >}}
+
+And they used a GenAI picture on their site.
+You can find a free picture of a generic laptop within 15 mins, but someone decided that it has to be GenAI?
+
+And this raises more questions for me.
+Serenity OS has a policy of zero external dependencies.
+Ladybird project has no such policy, so they will use 3rd party code.
+Will it GenAI it?
+If so — I'm out.
+The moment someone mentions that Ladybird uses Microsoft Copilot anything, I'm removing all interest in the project.
+Browser is too complex, too important tool to be full of bullshit code.
+
+But for now, I am optimistic.
+I'll follow the development (well, the part outside closed Discord) and I'll happily use it.