Panorama: Towards what future is Free Software and Open Source heading?
Entering the twenties, and with so many changes in the panorama, is to wonder: Towards what future is Free Software and Open Source going?
The question is very pertinent, since much of what happened this past year, commented or not on our blog, makes it clear to us that such events or changes in the panorama of the Free Software and Open Source have made their future look like something uncertain or less than ideal for many, compared to previous years. Consequently, while some see these cambios as natural and logicalothers consider them to be contradictory to the very nature of the Free Software and Open Source.
Therefore, we can affirm that our environment or world related to the Free Software and Open Source, has suffered, especially this last year, a undeniable and important expansion, from the traditional niche of Communities and social organizations towards large business organizations and private corporations, many of a transnational and global order, such as IBM y Microsoft, just to mention 2.
My point of view
In my very personal case, I don't dare lack of serious or official statistics or surveysThat is, if the majority of the members or users of the Free Software and Open SourceAre for or against these changes emerged at the heart of our movement.
Certainly, on websites like ours or others, or forums, groups or channels of the Internet and Social Networks, one sees and feels the tirade and controversy formed, by both sides, some in favor and others against. But, my point of view is one of caution and reserve with a tendency towards distrust, towards so much integration and exploitation of the Free Software and Open Source by Governments few transparent and monopolizing and controlling transnational giants.
Support
Since, although it is true that I see it as a good thing that the Free Software and Open Source, and therefore GNU / Linux, expand and be supported and used like a quality alternative, by the Organizations and companies of the public and private sector, of all the countries of the world.
No support
It is also true that, I am very suspicious, for example, of the possible or actual insertion of legal or software additions, which limit or restrict in some way, the use of the applications developed under our scope, by certain Governments or Technological Giants. Or the insertion of telemetry codes, advertising, tracking, or back doors, hidden or not, by the aforementioned.
Questions
And hence, the question that many ask themselves:
- Can we or should we continue to consider this new generation of applications developed by Governments and Corporations as Free Software or Open Source, if in some way they introduce certain limitations of use or undesirable codes for the majority?
- Is it really a worthy and sustainable concern on the part of some of us or pure technological paranoia, how this phase of the development of Free Software or Open Source evolves?
- Will Free Software gradually become mostly Open Source and / or only free, because it is more beneficial for the activities and businesses of Governments and private Corporations?
Interesting articles related to the panorama
Below some Articles from the same Blog, for and against, the panorama and / or the subject of the article, so that each one sets his own vision on what is discussed:
In favor of the panorama
Against the panorama
Conclusion
We hope that this "useful little post" about him «Panorama actual y futuro» of the «Software Libre y Código Abierto», which has made it more clear to us what could really happen, is of great interest and usefulness, for the entire «Comunidad de Software Libre y Código Abierto» and of great contribution to the diffusion of the wonderful, gigantic and growing ecosystem of applications of and for «GNU/Linux».
And for more information, always do not hesitate to visit any Online library as OpenLibra y jedit to read books (PDFs) on this topic or others knowledge areas. For now, if you liked this «publicación», don't stop sharing it with others, in your Favorite websites, channels, groups, or communities of social networks, preferably free and open as Mastodon, or secure and private like Telegram.
Or simply visit our home page at DesdeLinux to read other interesting posts about «Software Libre», «Código Abierto», «GNU/Linux» and other topics related to «Informática y la Computación», and the «Actualidad tecnológica».
As usual in Linux Post Install, a very interesting vision of what this year that is just beginning can bring to a sector as important as free and opensource software, so used by many people and companies and little or nothing recognized in the most of the time.
Will it be the year of GNU / Linux? Surely not on the desktop, but hey, let's hope that devices with GNU / Linux preinstalled or - if not too much to ask - will continue to come out (albeit in a trickle), without any obstacle for the user, if they wish, as they can install it without any complication.
Hopefully it will be the year of the penguin at the government level because we are honest in this relevant sector, it is not that we are close to being dominant, so if progress is made in this sector, it will be a positive sign, especially if it is given visibility.
On the subject of smartphones and smart devices, an alternative that would prosper that had nothing to do directly with Google would not be bad because in the end the interests of this company are followed beyond the pure free development of software (consequence that we see a planned obsolescence brutal and despicable).
I do not roll more, my congratulations again to Linux Post Install.
Greetings Teo! And thank you for your very complementary comment to the article. Certainly, we hope that the fears of some regarding Free Software and Open Source are not fulfilled and this strange transition between some "few transparent Governments and Monopolizing and controlling Transnational Giants", and this year the GNU / Linux Ecosystem continues to grow and become more massive. without major problems.