Sharing and participation...

One of the things we all enjoy doing, is to share. People do that, and tend to go to places where sharing is easy.

We are all social by nature. Sharing what we find, or do, with others is something we like to do. We enjoy discovering new things, and we do we want to share with other people. Not only that, many times we discover new things when other people share what they have with us.

This is why we tend to gather in places where other people go.

I can think of several examples of things I enjoy doing that I discovered because someone shared it with me directly, or at a forum. And also have presented others with my discoveries, and they have liked it.

Yet there are groups that instead of using the need to share we have to their advantage, they try to keep people from doing so. And their efforts are mostly in vain, since people always find a way to share what they like with others.

Instead of trying to stop people from sharing, a mechanism that let's people to share while giving something back in return needs to be found. When people feels like the have a share on whatever is going on, they naturally feel the need to do something to keep it going.

Most importantly, the idea that all must boil down to making people to contribute money needs to change. Why not let people contribute time and effort instead?

There are many ways that people can contribute back, and all are equally valuable. Not everybody will participate equally, or contribute with the same enthusiasm, but the all efforts made by every person who chooses to give back pile up.

So instead of trying to stop people from sharing, lets make them feel part of what they are sharing. This way, they will most likely contribute something back and make things better.

The power of choice...

Another of the things I like about FOSS, is that there is a lot of variety to choose from. This helps to configure you computer the way you want it to work, and also the way your desktop looks.

One can really customize the computer as one pleases, making using your computer a really pleasant experience. Almost every Linux distro supports several users interfaces, making it easy to choose a distro that looks and feels like you want it to.

Not only that, one doesn't really have to an expert on command lines. You can find several distros where you don't actually need to go to that level, or find the distro that suits your level of expertise on the matter. At the end, it's up to each user to decide how deep into it he or she wants to go.

The software installed in most distros is the bares bones, which is a good thing since they include the software most people uses on daily basis. If you need a piece of software that doesn't come installed, most modern distros make it easy to install what you need.

And if you need extra information on how to do it, the odds are that you just need to do a quick search to find a way to do so.

But most importantly, with FOSS the user really has the freedom to choose what makes it into his/her computer. On the hard drive there is only what the user wants, and uses more frequently.

Not only that, there are several offerings of tools that do what the users wants to get done. With the extra that most of them can be adapted to the user needs with more ease than their proprietary counterparts. Just doing a quick search you can come by several of the most popular options.

And most of the time, you can find a version to use on your Windows or Mac OS X machine if you don't feel comfortable making the jump to a Linux distro.

There are several ways you can experience the freedom that comes with FOSS, and the satisfaction that comes of being part to a truly lively community.

The strength of diversity...

The diversity that comes with the FOSS movement is another thing that I like about. I believe that diversity actually gives both, strength and a great thing to have.

Diversity is good because it brings different points of view and experiences to the table. Thus enabling to make things happen a lot faster, since the odds of someone of someone having faced the same or similar circumstances are greater. Giving the community the ability resolve things a lot faster.

Also, it's good because there are a lot of people with different backgrounds the search of the right person, or group, to help in your project is a lot easier. The community can give different perspectives on how a problem can be solve, or what elements should be included on your project.

As a user, it's beneficial because there are several projects that approach the same task in different ways. And because of this, you can be sure that the odds that there is a project that better for your needs is out there.

It's true that with diversity comes some perils, and managing it can be tricky to say the least. But, in the long run diversity is an asset.

Diversity prevents to become trapped doing the same things, because no one in the community sees a way out. Not only there is someone that can point out the fact, but can also help pointing the way out.

FOSS as a community should embrace diversity, and work together to make it as much a strength as possible.

Design isn't everything...

I find it mostly annoying and sad how many fans of many products tend to focus mainly on how good the design looks. And when someone points out that any part of it isn't necessary or it doesn't work that well all the fan boys are quick to refute by name calling.

It seems that many users are so blinded by the bells and whistles of the products they buy, that they those focus on the usability or if they actually need the product they buy.

While I like that the products I use look good, I prefer them to be practical and utilitarian. The main reason I use something is because it gets the work done, not because it looks good. One can save a lot of time and money by getting things that get the task they are designed for effectively, rather than by them just for the looks of the product.

There are out there several examples of product that are both practical and good looking, but most of the time one has to choose one or the other. Let's face it, getting there is more an art than a since. Thus, is really hard to do design such products. Also explains why usually those products go with a premium.

It's time to actually look beyond looks. And either buy things that are useful, or be willing to pay the premium for the product that have both attributes.

The best tool is the one that does its task most efficiently, and if has good looks is only a plus.

Freedoms on the Internet...

The Internet has is one of the technologies that has the most potential to bring, and keep, people together.

It's a platform on which everyone can participate, share and truly reach a larger number of other people in order to organize in order to reach common objectives.

As such, it's important that the Internet runs on open standards and software. It should be easy to see how the underpinnings run, so that no group can have a way to impede free speech. Or any other freedoms at that.

Individuals have the right to freely associate as they see fit, in order to advance their interest. Walled gardens are to avoided as a matter of principal, since they take control out of the hands of the people and put it on the hands of the owner of the gardener.

Freedom of speech and association are corner stones to keep our freedom. We should be the ones settings the limits to them, not outside forces. Why anyone should have a word on what I say, or with whom I associate with? When power becomes centralized, it has a hard time keeping up with the advancement of the individual and the society.

That's why communities at the ground level should have a lot more say on how they manage themselves. We are the one who know better than anybody else the problems that we face them, and should have the freedom to look for the solutions needed and enact them.

The time has come to take power to do on our hands, and really make the change we are looking for directly at our communities. And the Internet can be one tool to empower the people.

Take control...

Is really sad how it seems that there is a trend followed by many companies to take control away from the user. Each time a new version is announced, the company who makes takes away features that would allow the user to control less and less of what to decide what the software can do.

Which is bad, because that means that the user is left at the mercy of whatever the company want to do.

The user should be able to have complete control of what it's running on his computer, and how is it running. After all, who know better what the user needs that the user himself.

As users, we should do more that mindlessly consume whatever it's given to use. We should be aware of what is going on around us, so we can do more than react when things aren't going our way. If we give them that, the users give up being able to effectively fight back.

Walled gardens are not beneficial for user, since walled gardens only serves the interests of those who own the garden. And they limit the options of the user to whatever the owner of the garden sees fit to offer.

Each user should be the one who decides what to see, and what to use. Most importantly, the user has the exclusive right to choose what channels to use to get the software he needs. Also, the users should be able to deal with the provider without any interference.

The end user is the one who should decide what goes on his or her machines, not the companies.

Break bounderies...

One of the things that irks me the most on any piece of software, being the OS to any other program that I run on my computer, is when it takes from me control the ability to set it up to work as I want it to do and how it share the data I feed into it.

I want to have as much control as possible of whatever is going on my computer, and being able to set my privacy level as I see fit on every piece of software running.

There is no need for the developers telling me how I should use and set the software once it is on my computer, or to be protected from myself. If I need any protective tools, those are the tools that help me understand and protect my computer and data from outside threats.

And the most important tool of all, is information on the possible threats I'm facing. Clear and concise information that helps me understand how certain things might harm me is far more useful at the time of making decisions about what software I download, or what sites should I avoid.

I dislike the idea of being forced into a walled garden just because the developers don't want me changing their code, appearance of the program, to make it work the way I want it to work. Or what worse, to tell me what can I can consume on their platform.

We should be given as much control as possible on our computers and smartphones as possible. We shouldn't be locked out to make any changes to them. Yes, some changes might take your product on paths you didn't think about or wanted it to go. But, once it's out there all has the tendency to take a life of its own.

Why limit anything to the boundaries one person or group set?

By opening the possibilities of what your software can do, the sky becomes the ceiling of what it can be achieved. One doesn't achieve greatness by limiting ourselves to a narrow road.

The Cloud...

For all the hype about the cloud, I've a hard time embracing it for all my computing needs.

I find that for be, I want some of my files on the cloud while other I want them to be on my hard drive. I do believe that for most people needs, they are going to use a mix of cloud and local.

For most intends and purposes, most people needs are meet by a mix of cloud and local storage or processing. The cloud is mostly used for sharing files, music and photos, or for collaborative projects where multiple people need access to a file to work with.

If you don't need to do any of those things, you could use your computer and local drives to meet all of your needs. At the end, there is no need to have everything on the cloud or stored locally. You just need to find the right mix for you.

Most importantly, is important to use services that use open standards at least. This insures that if anything happens to the service, your files can be read by any other service. It would be even better if the service you use is open source, since gives an extra layer of security and flexibility.

The way I say...

I see no reason why any public or private entity should have any say on how I use my computer, smartphone, or any consumer electronic devise. Much less on what software should I install and use on my device that I own.

Whats more, I should have the legal right to check how the software I use on my devices work and make sure that it doesn't do any other function that goes against what I intend to use it. Also, I should be able to know if it gathers any of my information and if it share it. If it does gather information, I should be informed before hand and asked to give the permissions to do so.

More importantly, there should be an easy way to modify the parameters and to opt out if I choose to do so afterward.

Also, I should be able to modify the software on my devices to work as I see fit. This option should be on by default, and its deactivation should only happen if I choose to deactivate it.

It's important for me that the software I use give me sole power over it once I install it on my devices. I should be able to set its behaviors, and to be able to control the processes that go on. I don't like the idea of a third party to mess with what's going on my computer or smartphone. No one should be able to have access to any part of it unless I willingly give permissions to do so, which should be easy to revoke in the future if I want to.

And those permissions should be used as agreed to at the beginning, and if there are any changes those should be put forth clearly.

At the end, what goes on my devices and how they behave it's my problem.

Innovation a through collaboration...

Collaboration among the community as a whole is one of the virtues of the FOSS movement that makes it strong, vibrant and place where innovations are fairly common.

This is because people question the current models, and are continuously asking themselves how things could work better. By doing so, new ways to do things are dreamed up. While many fail, the few that work bring really great things to the table that benefit the community as a whole.

Not only this, everyone is aware that there isn't a single correct way to do things. All depends on what is the end result we are looking for, and with what are we going to work with. As the saying goes, there is more than one way to skin a cat.

The real question, is what tools work better for you. What works in a given set of circumstances, might not work with another set.

FOSS gives you the ability to find the set of tools that adapt better to your needs, giving the user the chance to focus on what needs to be done and not on the tool being used. If the tool gets in the way, then it's useless.

Proprietary software got in my way more often than not. Since I made the switch to FOSS, I've found changing the tool because I found something better or because I just liked the way it looked. FOSS has given me a level of freedom and flexibility that I never enjoyed before.

Not only that, it made more aware of the community behind the projects I use. And gave a motive to try to reach out and do my part. In other words, collaboration is no longer an option. Is something I must do to help to make things better not only on a personal level, but for the community at large.

Because when an innovation comes out from the project I use or help with, it makes things better for all of us.

Open standard...

Open standards are valuable not only because they allow people to share, but because they allow people to collaborate in a more effective and practical way.

In order to collaborate, open standards are an invaluable tool to be able to do so. Open standards allow people to concentrate on their work more readily, since their files can be distributed among their partners without having to worry about what platform everybody else is running.

And being the nature of open standards allow them to be implemented by any person, or group, on their platform with minimal trouble. This is especially good for the end user, since then he or she can pick the medium on which the file will run in accordance to their particular needs; opposed having to worry about if their files are going to be able to be used at all.

In the current state of things, where there is a way where people can come together to work together in ways that makes it a lot easier the importance of open standards can't be understated. Standards that are owned and managed by a single entity, or a small group, should be discouraged. Development of open standards that can be implemented as widely as possible should become the norm.

Open standards not only present the best way to build our future, but to preserve our past in a way in which we can all access and learn from it.

If we want to grow, and become closer as a society, open standards are our best bet. They give us a way on which we all can have a stake on the way we build our world.