Summary: After nearly 17 years we've crossed the 37,000 blog posts milestone; we can probably hit 40,000 within a year or less and today we've replaced the IRC widget (it hasn't worked for anyone since December; there's no plan to fix it)

THIS site is crossing yet another milestone: 37k. It moreover turns 17 in a few months and it recently posted a lot more blog posts than ever before (even more than in 2009 and 2010 with about 3,600 annual posts).

In other news, we're experimenting with a new IRC widget while recognising privacy limitations. We welcome feedback on it, both good and bad.

The Sirius 'Open Source' experience^* being told here has helped other people, according to the following message. Do note there are no identifying details in this message, which was sent last week via E-mail^**:

Thank you, and thanks for Techrights

Dr. Schestowitz,

I wanted to take a moment and thank you for all the work that you do to inform the public about the news and politics of free software.

I first encountered your boycott-novell blog after the novell/ms agreement was announced. I found your coverage to be very enlightening. It is the first time I became aware that incumbent megacorporations in the IT industry were trying to erode the adoption of free software and the free software movement discreetly.

After the novell/ms agreement faded in my memory, and as novell's assets were sold again and again, I lost track of your site. However, years later, around 2018 I rediscovers your reporting again in Techrights, and I have been actively reading it since. Lately, I have been listening to the audio of your videos and I am grateful that you make them available. I am more informed as a result. I would be ignorant on the news and political landscape of free software without your reporting.

I am grateful that you shared your experience about your departure from sirius. It was very helpful to me because your descriptions of bad management there were very similar to the toxic management I had at my old job. It helped me not feel gaslit by their statements and actions knowing that someone else had a similar experience.

My life is better because you share your time and your work with me. I wanted you to know. If I can support your work and Techrights, please don't hesitate to let me know how.

Gratefully,

[redacted]

Has this site impacted the worldview and choices of other people? If so, it would be pleasant to hear from them. ⬆ ___ ^* Unhealthy and unpleasant, especially towards the last year. I was getting defrauded along with my GNU/Linux-loving friends/colleagues, basically robbed in secret by people who use Apple Macs and reject "Open Source" (they used that label to recruit and retain us for very low salaries).

^** There's a real person behind it, but we've removed the name. The feedback is very much appreciated.