Bonum Certa Men Certa

Today, After More Than 15 Years, I'm Deleting 'Open Source' From My RSS Feeds

'Open Source' became everything its fiercest critics worried it would eventually be

Entryism
Wikipedia on entryism



Summary: The Open Source brand -- like the Open Source Initiative (OSI) -- stands for monopolies now, with few exceptions here and there; there's no compelling reason left to support "Open Source" anymore (focus on software freedom instead)

THE "OPENWASHING" thing isn't a growing trend; it's becoming the norm. As I look over Google News results (as RSS/XML only; this is the only Google service I still use!) I realise that there's nothing of value in it. Almost nothing. Maybe less than 10% of the whole. I see mentions of Microsoft, Google, Facebook... or projects that are GitHub-hosted, i.e. entrapped in a proprietary software cage. Lots of the results are pure marketing spam that's FUD from Microsoft proxies such as Black Duck, demonising Free software to push proprietary stuff. We know who amplifies that stuff and why...



What on Earth is this nonsense?!

"I'd rather write more articles than pick links about how Facebook is now "open", "Google will save us from COVID" and Microsoft "fights the bad guys..." (yes, that's the gist of it)."Why do I still spend about 6 hours a week following and keeping abreast of this nonsense?

It's tiring, both emotionally (exhausting!) and technically. I'd rather write more article than pick links about how Facebook is now "open", "Google will save us from COVID" and Microsoft "fights the bad guys..." (yes, that's the gist of it).

"And shame on you, OSI leadership (people from companies like IBM). You did this to yourselves..."Today, for the first time since 2004 or 2005, I've decided to just delete all the crap and never receive that again. Ever.

RIP, "Open Source".

And shame on you, OSI leadership (people from companies like IBM and Google). You did this to yourselves...

You're only 1 or 2 years behind the Linux Foundation when it comes to the sellout. No wonder your two co-founders are out this year, unwilling to associate with you anymore. And what next on your agenda? A "clearly defined" merger with InnerSource Commons (ISC)? Because "Open Source" is, after all, just (being) reduced to mere "collaboration" (sharing code snippets or components on GitHub)?

"Well, "Open Source" was never a genuine attempt at making Free software more widespread and popular; but at least there was that claim (from the likes of Bruce Perens)."A couple of years ago Simon Phipps repeatedly assured me nothing would change after he accepted Microsoft's money on behalf of the OSI, soon thereafter leaving the OSI in the hands of a Microsofter (in the Board); nowadays the OSI's official blog is routinely used to promote Microsoft job ads, proprietary GitHub and even worse things. And it's not limited to Microsoft. Look who nowadays speaks on behalf of OSI (in public events as recent as this year's). Look who those people work for.

I love the GPL. But the media told me to say I'm with 'Open Source' so I took the dive...
Linux founder in the pool. Credit: Photo published by Thayvian, 17 January 2004 (linux.conf.au).



Well, "Open Source" was never a genuine attempt at making Free software more widespread and popular; but at least there was that claim (from the likes of Bruce Perens). If there was ever any sincerity, it's now all lost and/or hijacked. You threw out RMS along with his baby and the bathwater. You threw up in our collective faces. We vomit back at 'cha.

“My 25-year-old child, the Free Software Movement, occupies most of my life, leaving no room for more children...”

--Richard Stallman (around 2008)

Recent Techrights' Posts

Evri (HermesUK) is Now Run by Bots and Hallucinating Scammers
Years ago they virtually removed support and tried chatbots instead
Clown Storage Without Backups
Setting up several reliable copies of the data, plus several off-site backups (this data is nowhere as sensitive as medical data), should only cost a few grand
FreeCAD is Becoming Slop-ware, Use LibreCAD Instead
It has regular releases and "Qt5 is mandatory" now [...] they at least audit what they add
 
IBM is Dead or Dying. Now It Asks Workers to 'Resign' Voluntarily.
To save face, to pretend no layoffs are happening (as it might alarm shareholders) [...] We keep hearing more and more stories like that
Links 18/08/2026: Sergey Brin Controlling State Policies, "Dario Amodei's (Anthropic) Wife Is Closely Linked to Jeffrey Epstein"
Links for the day
SBS News Interviews Daniel Pocock
The locals say this PR stunt (by the bigot, Farage) was a waste of money
Clownflare Sees One in 7 Web Requests in Libya Originating From GNU/Linux
GNU/Linux has taken a (foot)hold there
Openwashing and Manifestos Composed in Private by Dictators With Deliberately Addictive (and Subsidised, Bundled) 'Tech'
It's long, so make a cuppa first
SLAPP Censorship - Part 153 Out of 200: Decades of Debt, Weaponising Borrowed Money to Try to Put Their Critics in Debt
they've always had a financial report by now
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, August 17, 2026
IRC logs for Monday, August 17, 2026
Gemini Links 18/08/2026: Solar Power, Kipple and Impermanence, Catastrophe Ethics
Links for the day
Less Technology, More Life
Technology is being associated (sometimes rightly) with physical and mental problems
Google Search Has Gotten Worse (a Lot Worse)
getting worse
Birthday in 80 Days
we'll start decorating and party online with our community
Loans and Massive Debt at Microsoft, This Won't End Well.
Microsoft running out of money to pay salaries (to the point of paying people for 'voluntary' layoffs) is a positive sign?
Gemini Links 17/08/2026: Life in Plain Text, Mimicking KARL, Release of Jugulans, Avoiding Slop
Links for the day
Cuba and Venezuela High in Adoption of GNU/Linux
some of the "communist" nations
Links 17/08/2026: Myanmar’s Cholera Outbreak, China Sends Commercial Vessels Through Arctic
Links for the day
GAFAM Loyalty Has Come to an End, Morale Low, People Whose Future is Uncertain Choose to Become "Lifers"
morale is low and there's no loyalty anymore
SLAPP Censorship - Part 152 Out of 200: Injunctions Do Not Cover Criticism, They Have Scope
self-incriminating communications
Clownflare Sees About Quarter of Web Requests in Ireland Coming From GNU/Linux
Well, in Ireland it seems like many people adopted GNU/Linux
Clownflare: In Australia and New Zealand GNU/Linux Peaks at Over 10% During Working Hours
That right there is interesting in its own right
Slowing Down by Intention
At the moment we have 6 or 7 ongoing series
Gemini Links 17/08/2026: Chamboree, Partial Solar Eclipse, Lady Macbeth
Links for the day
Links 17/08/2026: "Bluesky Is Down Again!" and "Anti-Social Media"
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, August 16, 2026
IRC logs for Sunday, August 16, 2026
A Vortex of Beacons (or "Bluetooth Everywhere" Vision)
If someone (or someones) calls you paranoid for taking about "beacon"-like functionality, there will be no lack of authoritative citations (e.g. Web links) they can be provided to prove them wrong
Falkland Islands: GNU/Linux Elevated to 6%
GNU/Linux usage seems to have increased a lot there
Links 16/08/2026: Reading Outside, Going Offline More, and Art of Computer Programming
Links for the day
The Question of Patience
Is there a lesson here somewhere?
IBM May be Sued for Mass Layoffs Via PIPs
Some whole threads (with all the long comments in them) recently got nuked by thelayoff.com
Links 16/08/2026: Ceuta Reports Social Control Media Used as a Weapon
Links for the day
Links 16/08/2026: Europe in Crisis of Droughts While Energy- and Water-Consuming, Pollution-Emitting Chatbots Are Spread by GAFAM (US) to Keep a Ponzi Scheme Going
Links for the day
GNU/Linux is a Platform for Work (Usage Surges in Daytime)
GNU/Linux 15% in daytime
We Need Rain, Not Chatbots
There's no "anti-AI" (it's not even AI), there's opposition to fraud, to plagiarism, and to companies that profit more when there's global warning (caused in part by their business activities)
SLAPP Censorship - Part 151 Out of 200: Dealing With Sleazy People and Companies That Steal (While Employing These Sleazy People)
we offer a quick summary and we're reflecting
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, August 15, 2026
IRC logs for Saturday, August 15, 2026
Gemini Links 16/08/2026: Sterrenkijker Releases, Solar Gemini Server
Links for the day