Why I believe in open source...

I use open source software mainly because of ethical reasons reasons. There are some technical ones too, but in some aspects the ethical side came first.

Collaboration is between individuals is important to bring forth innovation, and humans are by nature social. A such, we have a need come together to share and exchange ideas. Anything that artificially puts barriers to collaboration should be avoided, instead we should be motivated to work together for common goals.

We also should be free to express our ideas and opinions openly, since this brings people together. By being exposed to the way other people think, we gain the knowledge and wisdom that otherwise we wouldn't have come about on our own.

Also by being able to see how things work, we get a better understanding of why and how things happen. By having this knowledge, we empower people to be less dependent on others and give them the chance to bring something of value back to the table.

By spreading knowledge we ensure our future, and give people tools that helps them to understand the world we live in. And also to bring people together, since we can learn from each other.

Knowledge is a common good, and everyone should have access to it. With it, we all can help to build a better world. The free flow of knowledge is one way we can ensure our survival, and move humanity forward. It gives power to all that posses it, and sharing it only makes it more valuable.

Sharing knowledge helps to perfect it, and to come with new ways to do things. By perfecting knowledge we perfect ourselves.

Bringing people together...

Smartphones, computers and tablets with Internet access are one of the most powerful tools to bring people together, and give the masses the ability to work together for common goals.

These devices give the average people access to information, tools and communities that otherwise the individual wouldn't be able to have. All these things together empower people, and makes it practical to actually organize on the grassroots level in order to achieve things that otherwise would be a lot harder to do.

Not only that, it humanizes people and as such helps us to empathize with them. All of the sudden, what happens in other places doesn't happen just to unknown people. Those people have faces and names, and we feel more readily compelled to give them a helping hand.

We are more aware of whats going on around us, for better or for worse. Since we know, action can be taken and other people can be made aware of the facts.

It truly helps to make our communities stronger, by bringing the people on the community closer together and letting the individuals to get to know each other. It breaches distances and time, people can interact in anyway they can think. We are only limited by our imagination, if we can think of it there is a way.

This is why it's so important to keep the Internet free and open. And our devices should be enable us to collaborate with others in a meaningful way.

Curiosity...

I've been always curious just about everything, I like to find new things and share them. This led me to Anime/Manga, Science Fiction, Linux, books, meeting new people and finding great places.

The thrill of the discovery, and the road toward it, fills me with a sense of satisfaction and wonder than few other things do. I enjoy the process of learning new things, as well I do sharing those new things with others.

There have been several flops along the way, but even then the lessons learned are valuable. And many times, those flops have taken me to new places and to meet new people. My eyes are opened to new realities, view points and ways to do things. I can honestly that my curiosity has helped to become a better person all things considered.

One thing that I've learned is that if you want to discover new things and meet new people, go to places that are conductive to human interaction. Those places where people feel at ease, and invite them to engage each other. Also, where you are invited to pick up things and explore what they can do.

Keep your eyes open to the little things, and a keen sense of wonder. Always ask yourself how things work, or why they happen. Try to see things to the eyes of other people, it really helps to see the bigger picture and to understand the motives that drove them to where they are.

Is important to remember that almost everything lies on a shade of gray, and almost nothing is absolutely right or wrong, good or bad. Most of those labels are mostly circumstantial to the context of the moment, and to the observer. It's fine to change your mind about anything later, all things change in time.

Most importantly, you don't have to like all that comes your way or to try everything new. But you have to be open to new experiences, and not to pass judgment until you try things out. Give all a fair chance to prove themselves, or itself.

New experiences gives you room to grow and mature. So, give a fair chance to what happens to come your way.

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.