Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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can I be a Free Software advocate but still use non-free software?? (lemmy.world)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I'm asking this because one time, while browsing the GNU website, I noticed that some of the members' emails had "gmail" on them!! And I asked myself how would that be possible?? And I think other members of the FSF had Gmail too. Why? Richard Stallman is against Gmail, so why would those memberse use it?? Would that mean I can use non-free software while advocating and loving free/libre software??

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

This kind of question comes up in many areas. And which software you use is less critical compared to politics. Of course you can use google and advocate foss, if your question is to be taken literally. It would not be the best thing you could do, but what would even be the best thing? Using software is not helping anyone (exept for software that takes your data or mines crypto while you use it or something). You would need to donate, contribute or bring people to do these things to really help the software/devs. Use which software/service you are comfortable with using.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

thank you, you're right, I love open source, I will contribute to it. And by the way, this is an extreme opinion, but Discord is an open source hybrid!! It's mostly open source but it's got proprietary blobs.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

There are other issues with Discord relating to privacy, which would even with a libre client (I think there is one? Bettercord or fosscord or something?) be a good reason to avoid it.
But I understand that there are important communities on there.