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Free Software Causes#

Looked to the stars tonight to find all that I need.

Till there's no sign of the answer that I seek.

("Winds of Change", by Y&T)

Here's a list of FLOSS-related causes that motivate me.

Reproducibility#

Now, your mission lies ahead of you, as it did mine, so long ago.

("Defender" by Manowar)

Ensure your binaries are actually derived from the alleged source code. This is part of the zero-trust approach, which is critical for information security.

Project(s):

Bootstrappability#

In the beginning there was a timeless, space-less, nothingness. And into that nothingness came a thought, purposeful, all-pervading. So ended the Void.

("Abyss of Time" by Epica)

It is a more radical approach to reproducibility. And although it is important for defensive information security, it is also important for resilience through alternative tech.

Project(s): Bootstrappable

Wish: Bootstrapable 100% Free Operating Systems

100% Free Operating Systems#

Debian#

It is key to have working community-driven projects. It's ok to have companies and corporations playing a role as long as we don't fall into dependency.

Projects:

  • Debian is the main community.
  • Devuan is a Debian variant alternative to systemd.

Other operating systems#

Alternatives support and enhance resilence:

Private Computing#

People privacy vs product transparency.

You think you've private lives. Think nothing of that kind!

There is no true escape, I'm watching all the time

("Electric Eye", by Judas Priest)

Mobile#

Big challenge here!

General#

Risk Levels#

What's at stake if/as we lose privacy:

  1. Attention: time and brain cycles are our most expensive, non-scalable assets
  2. Shame: risk of social difamation
  3. Impersonation: allows theaf
  4. Physical health: Activists risk life or physical attacks. Family and friends become targets too.

Approaches:#

  • Avatars: Noone should know you are a god
  • Free Software and privacy-oriented services
  • Leverage on communities
  • Serverless and self-hosting

Ecologic Computing#

  • Be thoughtful about AI: Powerful but eco-expensive
  • Minimalistic computing: power consumption, low-tech, efficiency.

Social Computing#

  • Med
  • Poverty

Philosophy#

  • Proactivity vs Social Nature and Leverage: "Alone faster, together further".
  • Pragmatism vs Utopia: "Show me the code", "Perfect is enemy of good".