Tsikbal: from my perspective

There is the misconception that just because you can get software free of cost, it means that it's free software. This is not the case, free software can cost money and still be free software; while close source source software can be given away. What make software free software, is not the price. What makes it free software is that the user can freely study the source code, make modifications and distribute the resulting software without any restrictions whatsoever. The price of the software isn't what makes free software, is that fact that there are no restrictions to access it's source code. When there are restrictions on imposed on the use of software, but it's given away for free, then it's freeware. Freeware can be both, open source or closed source(proprietary) software, since it just means that it's given away for no profit. Free software can be for profit, if it allows their users free access to their source code to be studied, modified and...

The data that each individual generates, should belong only to the individual who generates. Thus, each individual should be the one who can access it and how much of it they can see. Our privacy is based on our control over the data we create. So, we need to keep doing all we can to make sure that our privacy is kept intact. There is no valid reason why our data should be collected and shared without our consent and permission. Every time our data is collected and stored by a third party, we should be made aware of the fact, and our permission should be obtained to do so. If we don't give our permission, out data shouldn't be stored at all. If the government wants to investigate on us, and gather data the data we have generated, they should always have to have prove that they have a probable cause. As such, if they can't prove a probable cause it should be illegal for the government to do so. People should be able to presume some level of privacy every where t...

It's sad how much critical thinking is lacking, sometimes as much as common sense it seems. The lack critical thinking brings several problems, the main one being that people just accept what they are told without actually analyzing the information given to them. The fact that people don't apply critical thinking when they receive new information, means that misinformation, even lies, become accepted by many and continue to be passed on as if they are correct. What can be more problematic, is the fact that when those pieces of information become so rooted in people's mind that are near impossible to change. One important aspect of critical thinking that needs to be understood, is that when applied correctly the person analyzes the information handed over. It isn't about criticizing the information just because, is filtering to see if it makes sense. In a way, we are compering with the information we already have in order to see if there is something that should...

Humanity has come as far as it has, because we are curious by nature. We want to know more about the world, the need to look for answers is almost an instinct. Sadly, somehow that curiosity is hammered out during childhood. We are told not to ask, to conform with a set of answers given to us to memorize. The need to go and seek those answers by ourselves is taken away, we are told that we aren't good enough to do it. Yet, we need to cultivate that curiosity. Instead of suppressing it, we should be giving our children the tools to look for their own answers in an effective way. Let's make being curious a good thing, something to be proud of. Curiosity brings good things for all when it's given the tools process the information found, so that the information obtained can be used in a way that benefits in as many ways possible. There is an urgent need to cultivate curiosity, not take out. The problem isn't questioning the world around us, it's t...

The thing with security in software, is not if there is a security flaw or not. It's more about how do they get handled, not to mention how fast they are fixed. One of the things you can count upon in software development, is that mistakes will be made at some point. Some of these mistakes will be security vulnerabilities, yet focusing on them to proclaim that all is wrong is shortsighted and unfair to developers. Instead, the focus on those security vulnerabilities should be how the developers acknowledge them and how fast they get them fixed. How they manage both of these issues is crucial for people do what must be done to secure their system by taking the appropriate actions, and to get the fix as soon as the developers get it out. Most importantly, let's keep in mind that every piece of software out there is bound to have some vulnerabilities. So, instead of trying to find a software without them, we need to keep working ironing out vulnerabilities out. When w...

At work, I've been using Windows since it's the only option because the applications we use just run on it. I don't really mind it much, but I just can't help missing Ubuntu. Ubuntu has become my Linux distro of choice, beating Windows by far in all the important areas for me. The time I spend using Windows at work only reinforce the fact that I'm not coming back to it any time soon, since I've grown fond of Ubuntu since it fits my computing needs and many of my views on how software should be developed. Even though I've had some hurdles with Ubuntu, which is normal with any OS if you as me, in general Ubuntu has given me a more stable and user friendly experience than Windows ever did. Ubuntu hasn't gotten into my work flow, and with its move to Unity it has even become even less intrusive. While Windows now seems to have 1001 ways to irk me, in some cases in ways it didn't do when I was a more regular user. I understand that Ubuntu mig...

As much I've been having a great experience with the BlackBerry I got a couple of months ago, I can't get my find myself wanting to change to an Android, Ubuntu Touch, or Firefox smartphone when I get the chance to do so. The main factor, is that I what my computer and smartphone to run on open source software. On my laptop I run the latest version of Ubuntu, the 13.04 release which is my favorite Linux distro. So, I want for my smartphone to run an open source OS so both the devices that I use for my daily life follow what I believe in. It's about having devices with software built around the freedoms and ethics I want to share with the world. In many ways, smartphones are an extension of what we believe in and reflect what we value. There are a statement of our personality and who we are, because of this I want my next smartphone to run an open source OS. The way in which open source software is developed, is how I believe all human endeavors should be pursue...

It seems that there is a trend by some companies, to heard people to use proprietary software on locked hardware. This is bad, since it limits people by locking them to use the products of certain company and with who they can share with. Most of those products have the habit of don't playing nice with the products made by other companies, because of a wall that really doesn't need to be there. There is no technical reason why all software can't actually play nice with each other, most of the time is a decision made to  lock people in so that they keep buying from a certain company. That companies do this is not acceptable, and they must be stopped. We need to push all of them to build on common standards, so that we can have access to all the information available in any format, use it as we see fit and to share it with who we want. Companies, or industries and governments for that matter, have no business building walls to obstruct the free flow of information am...

It's ludicrous that governments that proclaim that they defend the rights and freedoms of their citizens, react the way they do when one of their citizens voices concerns about some of their actions or exposes their wrongdoings. The standard reaction to those citizens is to go after them with a vengeance, going to great lengths to get to them to assert punishments on them. They act in ways that are pretty much resemble those of, or close to, those actions of governments they tag as oppressive or irrespective or human rights. Somehow they believe that they have the moral high ground, or the right, to do those same things to their citizens. Thus, we need to keep pushing those governments to walk the road they expect from other governments. We need to keep pushing every government to work in a transparent way, so that we all can see how they work and can't quiet down those who point to those actions that intrude our freedoms and rights. People who brings to light thos...

As technology that allows people to be more social, and share, almost anything permeates into society it comes with a lot of implications. One of the most important, is that authorities will have a harder time censoring or ignore our rights. We have the chance not only to share what we do, but also share data on what the government does for good or for bad. In many ways, the people are starting to have a real chance to make sure that authorities don't do things outside of what they are supposed to do. In essence, people themselves can become the ones who keep tabs with what the government do and what they don't. This push to make that technology freely available as widely as possible must be maintained, since it means that we can make sure the governments act in a transparent way and answer to us the people who they serve. The world is at the verge of a power shift, and one that isn't just among states. The people can have the chance to come into the game, and ...

What many people fail to realize about free software, is where its true value resides. Most people tend to believe that the main value of free software is on the cost, focusing just on the financial side of the equation. Cost is not where the free software main value resides, since some free software can cost quite some money and don't lose its value to the people who deploy it. The main value of free software comes from the freedoms it gives to the users, and the fact that those freedoms make it much more flexible. This means that the user truly gets more that just the right to use or implement certain software, the user also gets the right to actually modify the software to better suit whatever need may arise at any point in time. Any software you need, will cost you something. The cost might be money or time, but the cost is still there to be taken into account. Yet, free software gives you the power and flexibility that comes with being able to modify it without ha...