Hacker News with Generative AI: Free Software

A conversation with Richard M Stallman (2004) (learntosolveit.com)
In the early and initial days (when open source, free software, and Linux were the same for me), I used to think of Richard M Stallman, known as RMS, in comparison with Mahatma Gandhi. One math professor there (at Cochin University of Science and Technology) gave a brief introduction and said that he feels RMS is comparable to Mahatma Gandhi.
FSF Holds Live Auction of 'Historically Important' Free Software Memorabilia (slashdot.org)
Who Is Free Software For? (tante.cc)
For a while I have been arguing that maybe there are some issues with the whole “Open*” movements, their founding myths and ideologies (see for example my talk at Fluconf). This criticism comes from a place of love.
LiquidFeedback – a free software for political opinion formation and decisions (wikipedia.org)
LiquidFeedback is free software for political opinion formation and decision making. The software incorporates insights from social choice theory in order to aggregate opinions more effectively.
Free Software Foundation rides to defend AGPLv3 against Neo4j license add-ons (theregister.com)
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) on Monday backed a lone developer's brave effort to overturn a pivotal court ruling that threatens to undermine the AGPLv3 – the foundation's GNU Affero General Public License, version 3.
"Free Software": An idea whose time has passed (medium.com)
Almost forty years ago, in 1985, the idea of “Free Software” was born.
FSF Use Microsoft Word and Docx to Submit Its Amicus Brief (techrights.org)
Could the FSF not find any law firm that, in addition to talking about or for Free software, does not use .NET, OOXML, and almost everything Microsoft?
Show HN: I vibe coded a free screen studio alternative that runs in the browser (screen.now)
"Free" Office for Windows is being trialed (office-watch.com)
Microsoft is testing a free version of Office for Windows with limited features, an important requirement and ads to ‘pay’ for the software.
Obsidian is now free for work (twitter.com)
Show HN: Mind Map Wizard – Generate Infinite Mind Maps with AI, for Free (FOSS) (mindmapwizard.com)
Jellyfin: The Free Software Media System (jellyfin.org)
Jellyfin is the volunteer-built media solution that puts you in control of your media.
Show HN: BGNix-100% Free and Privacy Image Background Removal (bgnix.com)
Statement on planned protests during the upcoming FOSDEM 2025 (fosdem.org)
We were made aware of planned protests during the upcoming FOSDEM 2025 in response to a scheduled talk which is causing controversy.
Why Open Source Misses the Point of Free Software (gnu.org)
The terms “free software” and “open source” stand for almost the same range of programs. However, they say deeply different things about those programs, based on different values. The free software movement campaigns for freedom for the users of computing; it is a movement for freedom and justice. By contrast, the open source idea values mainly practical advantage and does not campaign for principles. This is why we do not agree with open source, and do not use that term.
FOSDEM and DMA updates and 2025 YH4F and Our visions for 2048 (fsfe.org)
The new year has begun, offering 365 days to promote Free Software! As we prepare for FOSDEM and continue working on the DMA implementation, we are excited to launch the fourth edition of Youth Hacking 4 Freedom. We closed 2024 sharing our predictions for 2048 and taking part in the Chaos Communication Congress.
Free-software warriors celebrate landmark case that enforced GNU LGPL (theregister.com)
Sebastian Steck, a software developer based in Germany, has obtained the source code and library installation scripts for his AVM FRITZ!Box 4020 router, thanks to a lawsuit funded by the Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC).
Free-software warriors celebrate landmark case that enforced GNU LGPL (theregister.com)
Sebastian Steck, a software developer based in Germany, has obtained the source code and library installation scripts for his AVM FRITZ!Box 4020 router, thanks to a lawsuit funded by the Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC).
The Free Software Foundation is dying (2023) (drewdevault.com)
Today, almost 40 years on, the FSF is dying.
Free Software Needs Free Tools (2010) (mako.cc)
Over the last decade, free software developers have been repeatedly tempted by development tools that offer the ability to build free software more efficiently or powerfully.
You don't need to pay for OpenAI - Gemini 2.0 Free & More (github.com/EliasPereirah)
Orion is a web-based chat interface that simplifies interactions with multiple AI model providers.
Trisquel GNU/Linux is a free operating system (trisquel.info)
Our most ambitious release to date, Trisquel 11.0 Aramo is out! After extensive work and thorough testing, we are proud to declare Aramo to be production-ready. This release brings many improvements and covers more grounds both in terms of machines supported and in installation options. Here are some highlights of the main accomplishments included in this release:
Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre operating system (hyperbola.info)
You've reached the website for Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre operating system. The Hyperbola Project is a community driven effort to provide a fully free (as in freedom) operating system that is stable, secure, simple, lightweight that tries to Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) under a Long Term Support (LTS) way.
Show HN: A Directory of Free, Open Source Alternatives to Popular Software (alternateoss.com)
Explore the Alternate Universe of Software
Piskel – Free online editor for animated sprites and pixel art (piskelapp.com)
Piskel is a free online editor for animated sprites & pixel art
Tell HN: Uptimerobot.com offers a fake free plan (ycombinator.com)
Hey HN, I am using uptimerobot.com for some years now through its free plan. It monitors some hobby-non really important projects. The same plan is advertised here: https://uptimerobot.com/pricing/<p>However, before some days I got the following email: "From 1st November 2024, our Free Plan is for non-commercial use only. If you're using it for business, you'll need to upgrade to a paid plan and now they are forcing me to update."
Unreal and Unreal Tournament are now free and preserved on the Internet Archive (rockpapershotgun.com)
Epic Games has given the OK for their 1998 shooter Unreal to be hosted on the Internet Archive, essentially making the classic sci-fi alien blaster free, and preserving it for the future.
VMware Workstation and Fusion are now free for everyone (theverge.com)
VMware made its Fusion and Workstation software that creates and manages virtual machines free for personal use earlier this year. Now, the company announced that as of Monday, it’s free for everyone, including commercial customers. Also, the Fusion (for Macs) and Workstation (for Windows and Linux) Pro versions are no longer available for purchase.
VMware makes Workstation and Fusion free for everyone (bleepingcomputer.com)
VMware has announced that its VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation desktop hypervisors are now free to everyone for commercial, educational, and personal use.
VMware Fusion and Workstation Are Now Free for All Users (vmware.com)
We’re thrilled to announce a significant change that reflects our commitment to making VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation more accessible than ever. Starting November 11, 2024, these powerful desktop hypervisor products will be available for free to everyone—commercial, educational, and personal users alike.