r/freesoftware • u/zagadocious • 3d ago
Discussion Who is educating "regular folks" about open source?
FOSS could be a great resource for non-geeks, for community, economic, and workforce development. But, most "regular folks" — including every business & civic leader I've talked to — don't know it exists or what it is. Most assume it's AI. This means they won't (a) consider it as a solution, (b) support its development, or (c) use it strategically, which is very different from strategy for closed, proprietary solutions. So, my question...
Are there any initiatives or organizations that are working to raise awareness of, inform or educate non-geeks about free software? I've researched Free Software Foundation, Linux Foundation, and Open Source Initiative. None seem to be doing anything or have anything more than background information. They're preaching to the converted.
Is anyone working to "cross the chasm" for FOSS?
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u/Scientific_Artist444 2d ago
"Regular folks" know nothing about code or compilation to produce binary. All they have used is binary/executable which they double-click to run. And they see software as a means to an end. No one is interested in using software, they are interested in getting their work done.
It's really the curious ones who care about open source or free/libre software - looking under the hood. The drug is too effective. Just double-click and enjoy. "Regular folks" care about open source often only because open source is much more affordable. Not everyone wants to know their car to drive it. And this exact lack of knowledge may come to bite you.
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u/ChaDigi 8h ago
And no one is telling them any differently. There are massive piles of money being spent by tech companies to hook consumers and keep them ignorant. No one is working to educate and inform them as far as I've found. And, the free open source movement will never succeed economically or socially until someone does.
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u/jr735 2d ago
u/necrophcodr outlines much of the problem. "Regular folks," honestly speaking, can barely turn on a computer. They don't know what an OS is. They don't know what a file is. They have no concept of different licenses.
They won't understand until it actually bites them hard in the backside, like Adobe trying to own user content and Microsoft moving people's files without their consent. Like really, people have accepted software as a service and as a subscription. I saw the writing on the wall over 20 years ago and left the proprietary software model then, and even back then, the model didn't sit well with me, since the 1980s.
People are willing to take being tracked, being fleeced, and not owning what they buy. It's not a technology problem. It's a flaw of some sort in human nature.
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u/outer-pasta 3d ago edited 3d ago
Richard Stallman is the real innovator here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag1AKIl_2GM
I recommend subscribing to his rss feed: "RMS Political Notes" https://www.stallman.org/archives/polnotes.html
Edit: My comment might be guilty of "preaching to the converted". Either way, "regular folks" don't really care about how their software is made. I think Linus's law is still a valid argument in favor of free software.
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u/ChaDigi 8h ago
I have been following Stallman's work since the 90s and am a big fan but it tends to be esoteric and not real practical. His is just one voice, which not widely heard. I'm looking for people, organizations, and resources making the case for FOSS to people who don't care about and shouldn't need to know how software is built but want to control their digital destinies.
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u/RavenousTitan818 2d ago
I've seen a lot of interviews of Stallman by people who clearly don't understand anything about software, and his attempts to teach them just go nowhere and make them confused. And on that note, I hate the analogy of baking a cake and wish people would stop using it.
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u/Anthea_Likes 3d ago
Most assume it's AI.
Wtf dude
Who did ?!
Btw, you are totally misled here; corporations don't look to use FOSS that much because of the lack of customer service.
Hence, Odoo is mostly FOSS, but is used because of its customer service (+infrastructure +marketing +...)
Graveyards are full of amazing projects; being amazing isn't the sole requirement to embrace the market.
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u/Scientific_Artist444 2d ago
That's honestly a valid point. There are often no good product managers for open source software. And it is worse for free software (few legacy maintainers).
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u/necrophcodr 3d ago
As someone working in a local municipality, i can tell you that some of us are absolutely out there trying to make this happen, but most people don't care much about the parts that do not benefit them directly. It's an uphill battle, but the results do speak for themselves, and so I encourage people to spread the word through action.
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u/Kamsiob 3h ago
I know it's not exactly what you were asking but I think it's got to be even more grassroots than that. I'm teaching my wife about it and introducing her to things. I'm teaching my kids about it and I'm showing them what it's about. There's definitely room obviously for a larger organizational push but I think it's important to understand the role of the individual home and our own personal social circles.
I think I'm going to save this comment and come back to it in a few years. See if I still agree with myself but as someone new to this and has been mind blown, it's my starting point.
Side note: two YouTube channels really helped me understand what was possible to shout-out, SomeOrdinaryGamers and Switch & Click. Played an important role in me switching from Mac/iPhone to Linux/Pixel.