Conversation

Notices

1. hay (hay@mastodon.starrevolution.org)'s status on Thursday, 06-Sep-2018 14:18:56 EDT hay

   Free Software is good but on its own isn't enough.
   When you look at the definition of Free Software you will notice how it is very programmer centric in its sense of freedom.

   Those who can't program and don't have the time to acquire the skill are directly excluded from most of the freedom we associate with Free Software.
   The only freedom they have is to run a free program and redistribute it without restriction.

   If your software could be useful to non-technical people, make sure they still have access to the participatory part of Software Freedom.

   Write accessible documentation.

   Provide ways for non-technical people to contribute to your project.

   And most importantly: Listen to the feedback of non-technical users equally, if not more than that of technical people.

   1. drak (drak@sn.1w6.org)'s status on Friday, 07-Sep-2018 13:14:32 EDT drak

      in reply to
      The four freedoms guarantee freedom for users: the programmers cannot force them to accept any change, because users can always find other programmers to work on the software. The only real power is through network effects, like making a bad thing a requirement for a good thing.
   2. rocky1138 (rocky1138@kwat.chat)'s status on Saturday, 08-Sep-2018 09:34:57 EDT rocky1138

      in reply to
      @hay Also, learn how to write software. No one is saying that non-developers can't contribute. It's just that there is a distinct need for developers.