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[libreplanet-discuss] Compatibility/Interop


From: rysiek
Subject: [libreplanet-discuss] Compatibility/Interop
Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 18:11:57 +0100
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Hi all,

thought I'd share some thoughts that've been bugging me for a while. I watched 
Brad Kuhn's talk on Copyleft:
https://archive.fosdem.org/2014/schedule/event/futurecopyleft/

I have similar sentiments -- copyleft is not appreciated, has bad press (for 
want of better description of the situation), etc.; and at the same time is 
absolutely crucial:
http://rys.io/en/148


But in his talk Brad said that Free Software used to have two killer projects: 
GCC and Linux kernel, and now GCC is being slowly eclipsed by LLVM. And we 
need new killer projects. And that he doesn't know what that could be.

I was pondering something for a while now and that question gave me a much-
eneded prod. So I submit to you an idea that the next killer project of the 
Free Software community will not be software per se, but compatibility, 
interoperability, standarization.

Things that due to corporate capture of standards bodies are starting to 
wither on the vine lately. Consider for instance:
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-fedsocweb/2013May/0058.html

I feel there is not enough pressure put on interoperability, and that could 
*really* be a killer-feature of Free Software. Free Software doesn't *need* 
vendor locking users in via file formats and proprietary protocols -- 
actually, needs and wants working in the exact opposite direction.

I think that's a fight we can actually win, and win it by simply *writing 
code* and licensing it under GPLv3 or AGPLv3 as appropriate. After all once 
something is good enough AND one can use it across different platforms and 
devices (yes, even closed ones), nobody can argue with its usefulness.

For instance, some of the crucial bits of interop we're lacking today, in my 
very humble opinion, are:
 - federated social network interop across projects (some interop is starting
   to coagulate aroun The Federation idea, finally);
 - FLOSS iCal/CalDAV/WebDAV sync app for Android/CyanogenMod/Replicant (or
   maybe I don't know of an existing one?).

In other words we need to fight the Not Invented Here syndrome.


That's just a braindump right now, sorry if that's not really clear nor well-
argued, I'm still pondering all this. Your thoughts very welcome!

-- 
Pozdrawiam,
Michał "rysiek" Woźniak

Zmieniam klucz GPG :: http://rys.io/pl/147
GPG Key Transition :: http://rys.io/en/147

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