this post was submitted on 07 Apr 2025
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Open-Source is Just That (vale.rocks)
submitted 14 hours ago by excel24@feddit.org to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] oshu@lemmy.world 20 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

It seems like the author is confusing open source with Open Source. The latter has a formal definition which includes a lot more than simple access to source code.

I also agree that no one is entittled to free support or enhancements, bugfizes, etc.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

It seems like the author is confusing open source with Open Source

No, they made it pretty clear that they do understand it. Here's a relevant quote:

When software is open-source, it is open-source, not necessarily free and open-source (FOSS), and even if it is FOSS, it might still have a restrictive licence[sic]. The code being available in and of itself does not give you a right to take it, modify it, or redistribute it.

  • open source - the definition you linked
  • FOSS - includes free software - wording is wonky here, but I'm pretty sure OP means Free Software here given the italics and whatnot
  • code being available - source available != open source; e.g. Unreal Engine is source available, provided you agree to their terms, but distribution is very limited

They didn't go into depth, which is fine (would've made the post much longer), but I think they did a fair job. A lot of people assume that if they have access to the source, they can do whatever they want with it, which absolutely isn't the case. Read the terms of the license, or at least be familiar w/ the major licenses and how to recognize them.

[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.world 3 points 8 hours ago

Free and open source software. "Open Source" has always been an attempt to attract big fish, hoping they are not evil, just slow. It's morally obsolete, while FOSS still isn't.

And BSD\ISC\MIT understanding of FOSS is even less morally obsolete every day that comes, no expectations that a properly designed virus license will somehow convert the humanity, just letting out seeds of knowledge that will eventually change the world or maybe not. It's sacrificial, but also very potent.

Anyway, most of those expecting free support are companies making money on products they haven't spend a dime improving. Or employees of such companies.

The whole world is using Java, but where is Sun? The whole world is using Asterisk (ok, maybe not all of it), but its developers are not millionaires AFAIK.

Entitled script kiddies are just dumb and rude, but I think there's much less of them than the former group. And they are less persistent, than that former group.