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Open Source Confessional

2022-02-16
by Tom Faughnan

Inspired by a recent episode of the Linux After Dark podcast, we decided to discuss when it is reasonable (if ever) to submit to using non-FOSS solutions in our lives. Generally, all of us agreed that sometimes it is okay to be pragmatic and use proprietary software and devices, though to what extent was a point of contention.

A large contingent of the club uses iPhones, for example, citing vendor lock-in and extolling the “just works” nature of Apple products. Is this forgivable?

Some members debated whether gaming is an appropriate time to set aside one’s principles. Is playing closed-source video games on Linux an acceptable compromise, or should we reject this incongruence?

Is fiddling around with free software always worth the hours out of your life? Everyone has a breaking point – what’s yours?