Linux powers the majority of servers, supercomputers and embeddeds. Apache HTTP Server and nginx power over 70% of websites, and used to account for almost 100% of all web servers. PHP is used by 80% of websites. MySQL is most likely the datastore for those websites. Git, Subversion, and Mercurial make up the majority of version control systems used for software and research. Python is the language of choice for machine learning and other data sciences. chances are that most websites you connect to via HTTPS are using OpenSSL. Hadoop and Kubernetes powers ‘big data’. core protocols like DNS, HTTP, SMTP, TCP/IP were developed as FLOSS. in their respective industries, there’s also Android, Audacity, Blender, Firefox, GIMP, InkScape, Krita…
i’m going to preëmpt your use of the word ‘free’ here. all of this required a great deal of time, effort and infrastructure. developers still need to eat, and that means the money came from somewhere. it is ‘free’ in the sense that: it is given, not sold; that it was a collaborative volunteer effort; and that you can do whatever you want with it. just because some developers receive some sort of compensation — or work a dayjob and have to survive in a capitalist system — does not mean we need fixed-schedule, ass-in-seats, top-down hostage wage labour to accomplish anything valuable at scale.
Sure, Linux is used in super computers, but there’s only around 500 of them.
Linux only has around 4% install base compared to Windows.
And I disagree on the not needing ass in seats metaphor you used; plenty of people who create FOSS do so because of a need/desire, yes, but also because that knowledge helps them make money afterwards.
Would you work your whole life to just create FOSS?
Making free software is a means to an end, and that end means recognition and eventually a well paying job.
Would you work your whole life to just create FOSS?
yes, if it has social value and brings meaning to my life.
you can drop the word ‘just’: i wouldn’t just do any one thing, and neither would most people if given the opportunity to do more than just their 9 to 5.
there is more to life than feeding the mute compulsion for private wealth and fame. the driving force of most people is to be comfortable and to belong, and the two are intertwined. in our current society, private wealth and fame are the path to comfort (it’s debateable whether the wealthy have any sense of ‘belonging’).
a lot of people really do want to do things just for the joy or intellectual stimulation of doing it, and to do so without having the joy sucked out of it by economic imperatives enforced from on high by a nepotic sadomasochist in a suit. there is nothing more humiliating than being forced to play a game you had no part in making, that you can’t say say no to, and that exists only as a form of power imposed on you.
I agree that most of us are used and abused by the rich pricks, it’s why I joined this community in the first place.
But it’s taken to an aburd extreme here where it seems people want to live a care free happy life without burdens, yet at the same time expect life to continue as it currently is with all the benefits we all receive.
Fact is, it won’t.
If people don’t bust their ass, and get paid well for it, most would not do anything of value (I know you said you would work for free, but you’re a very very small minority).
Go ahead and Google server OS market share. Educate yourself, I’m not interested in arguing with someone who isn’t interested in reality over winning an argument. Sincerely, fuck off.
What are some of the biggest software that we use today that was produced for free?
Do you mean FOSS? Where is that used as a top contender?
Linux powers the majority of servers, supercomputers and embeddeds. Apache HTTP Server and nginx power over 70% of websites, and used to account for almost 100% of all web servers. PHP is used by 80% of websites. MySQL is most likely the datastore for those websites. Git, Subversion, and Mercurial make up the majority of version control systems used for software and research. Python is the language of choice for machine learning and other data sciences. chances are that most websites you connect to via HTTPS are using OpenSSL. Hadoop and Kubernetes powers ‘big data’. core protocols like DNS, HTTP, SMTP, TCP/IP were developed as FLOSS. in their respective industries, there’s also Android, Audacity, Blender, Firefox, GIMP, InkScape, Krita…
i’m going to preëmpt your use of the word ‘free’ here. all of this required a great deal of time, effort and infrastructure. developers still need to eat, and that means the money came from somewhere. it is ‘free’ in the sense that: it is given, not sold; that it was a collaborative volunteer effort; and that you can do whatever you want with it. just because some developers receive some sort of compensation — or work a dayjob and have to survive in a capitalist system — does not mean we need fixed-schedule, ass-in-seats, top-down hostage wage labour to accomplish anything valuable at scale.
Sure, Linux is used in super computers, but there’s only around 500 of them.
Linux only has around 4% install base compared to Windows.
And I disagree on the not needing ass in seats metaphor you used; plenty of people who create FOSS do so because of a need/desire, yes, but also because that knowledge helps them make money afterwards.
Would you work your whole life to just create FOSS?
Making free software is a means to an end, and that end means recognition and eventually a well paying job.
yes, if it has social value and brings meaning to my life.
you can drop the word ‘just’: i wouldn’t just do any one thing, and neither would most people if given the opportunity to do more than just their 9 to 5.
there is more to life than feeding the mute compulsion for private wealth and fame. the driving force of most people is to be comfortable and to belong, and the two are intertwined. in our current society, private wealth and fame are the path to comfort (it’s debateable whether the wealthy have any sense of ‘belonging’).
a lot of people really do want to do things just for the joy or intellectual stimulation of doing it, and to do so without having the joy sucked out of it by economic imperatives enforced from on high by a nepotic sadomasochist in a suit. there is nothing more humiliating than being forced to play a game you had no part in making, that you can’t say say no to, and that exists only as a form of power imposed on you.
I agree that most of us are used and abused by the rich pricks, it’s why I joined this community in the first place.
But it’s taken to an aburd extreme here where it seems people want to live a care free happy life without burdens, yet at the same time expect life to continue as it currently is with all the benefits we all receive.
Fact is, it won’t. If people don’t bust their ass, and get paid well for it, most would not do anything of value (I know you said you would work for free, but you’re a very very small minority).
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Holy cow batman, I appreciate the details, but please don’t type novels for responses.
I disagree with your sentiments however, and we’ll leave it at that.
So you’re including supercomputers and desktops. What about servers and embedded devices? No kernel is more ubiquitous than Linux.
Enterprise servers? Use Unix, which isn’t free
Go ahead and Google server OS market share. Educate yourself, I’m not interested in arguing with someone who isn’t interested in reality over winning an argument. Sincerely, fuck off.
Lmao… You must be a leftist if you insult people when they don’t say anything towards you.
Grow up, kid.
You’re the petulant child here. He gave you good points and you hand waived it by saying inane shit.
Linux is powering a great number of servers and embedded devices. It is a fact .
But I get it, you are just a troll and whatever will be said, you’ll just ignore and continue to spout bullshit.
So go pay for Unix servers and fuck off.
Nodejs is a great example of FOSS and a good part of the modern internet is built on that.
Linux as well. You can pay for support, but the software itself is FOSS. It might not have a big share of desktop use, but it’s a mainstay on servers.
Well if you’re going to pay, might as well use Unix server os
That’s the thing though, you don’t have to pay, but you have the option on certain distro to have a professional support for your business.