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Denmark Wants to Dump Microsoft Software for Linux, LibreOffice
a year ago
- Denmark's Ministry for Digital Affairs is transitioning from Microsoft software to Linux and LibreOffice.
- The transition will start with half of the ministry's employees next month, aiming for full adoption by autumn.
- The move aims to save costs and reduce dependency on US software, prioritizing 'digital sovereignty.'
- The ministry may revert to Microsoft if the transition proves too complicated.
- The decision also avoids the cost of managing Windows 10, which loses support in October.
- Other Danish cities, Copenhagen and Aarhus, also plan to phase out Microsoft software, citing political reasons.
- Denmark's politicians advocate reducing reliance on US tech companies in favor of open-source alternatives.
- A German state office previously announced a similar transition for 30,000 employees.
What Is Open Source?
a year ago
- Open source software originated from academic collaborations and was initially shared under public domain licenses.
- Richard Stallman founded the free software movement in 1983, emphasizing four essential freedoms for users.
- The term 'open source' was introduced to make free software more appealing to businesses, distancing from the political connotations of 'free software'.
- Despite its ideals, open source software often benefits large corporations more than individual contributors, with few successful open source business models.
- Funding and sustainability are major challenges for open source projects, as seen with OpenSSL and XZ Utils.
- Open source communities struggle with diversity, with a significant underrepresentation of women and other marginalized groups.
- Open source software underpins much of the internet and technology industry, but its benefits are not equally distributed globally.
- End-user open source alternatives often lack the resources to compete with proprietary software in terms of user experience.
- Open source has transformed computing but requires evolution to address compensation, diversity, and sustainability issues.
Delightful Commons List
a year ago
- Delightful Commons is an initiative by Arnold Schrijver to promote freedom and discoverability on the internet.
- It aims to counteract commercial interests that overshadow free knowledge and open-source software.
- The initiative features curated lists (Delightful Lists) on various topics like software, design, and open science.
- Anyone can contribute by creating and maintaining their own directory lists.
- Inspired by the Awesome project on GitHub, it encourages community-driven curation.
- The website, delightful.coding.social, is part of the Social Coding Commons and was originally created by Yarmo.
- Individual lists are maintained by their respective authors, fostering a decentralized approach.
Open Steno Project
a year ago
- Open Steno is a volunteer-run initiative to make stenography accessible for free, breaking away from expensive, proprietary industry standards.
- Traditional stenography requires expensive equipment, but Open Steno offers affordable beginner options like replacement key caps or laser-cut pads.
- Stenography allows writing at over 200 words per minute using chords, which can represent words, phrases, symbols, and more.
- Plover is a free, open-source steno program that enables using a regular keyboard as a steno machine.
- The Open Steno community provides free learning resources, including an online textbook and a typing game on Steam.
- Professional steno machines are costly, but hobbyist machines are available from community members at lower prices.
Twin – A Textmode WINdow Environment
a year ago
- Twin is a text-based windowing environment with mouse support, window manager, terminal emulator, and networked clients.
- Supports various displays including plain text terminals, X11, itself, and twdisplay for network-transparent display clients.
- Tested on multiple platforms including Linux (i386, x86_64, ARM, ARM64, PowerPC, Alpha, Sparc), Mac OS X (x86_64), and FreeBSD (i386, x86_64).
- Includes a tutorial covering user interface, client usage, compression, display management, fonts, installation, and system admin caveats.
- Licenses: Twin server and clients are GPL'ed; libraries libtutf and libtw are LGPL'ed.
- Documentation includes installation guides, configuration examples, and developer references.
- Download available from https://github.com/cosmos72/twin.
- Building requires Bourne-shell, make, ANSI C compiler, and recommended packages like x11-dev, xft-dev, ncurses-dev, zlib-dev, and gpm-dev on Linux.
- Manual configuration is discouraged as it may lead to build failures.
Darklang Goes Open Source
a year ago
- Darklang has open-sourced all repositories under the Apache License 2.0.
- Initially, Darklang was source-available due to its unique hosted-only architecture and business model.
- Three key shifts led to the decision to open source: product maturity, local-first development, and new business opportunities.
- Open source aligns with Darklang's philosophy of democratizing programming and ensures platform persistence.
- Darklang now supports local development via CLI and deployment to various environments.
- Open questions remain about licensing in the Darklang ecosystem, especially concerning package management.
Yet another European government is ditching Microsoft for Linux – here's why
a year ago
- Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, is phasing out Microsoft software in favor of Linux and open-source programs within three months.
- The move affects 30,000 employees, including civil servants, police officers, and judges, aiming for 'digital sovereignty' and reduced reliance on US tech giants.
- Reasons include data security concerns, geopolitical dependencies, and cost savings from eliminating Microsoft licensing fees.
- Migration will occur in phases: LibreOffice replaces Word/Excel, Open-Xchange and Thunderbird replace Exchange/Outlook, and Linux desktops (likely Kubuntu or SUSE) replace Windows.
- Past examples like Munich’s LiMux and France’s Gendarmerie (GendBuntu) show mixed but promising results for Linux adoption in government.
- The shift reflects broader EU distrust of US tech companies and a push for digital independence.
Fossify – A suite of open-source, ad-free apps
a year ago
- Fossify is a group of privacy-focused, open-source, and ad-free mobile apps.
- It forked from the discontinued SimpleMobileTools to continue its legacy of simple and private tech.
- For issues affecting multiple apps, check general issues.
- Engage in discussions or share ideas at general discussions.
- Contribute by helping with code or translations via a provided link.
- Questions or inquiries can be directed to [email protected] or through discussions.
- Contributions from the community are highly appreciated.
How to run a shadow library: operations at Anna's Archive (2023)
a year ago
- Anna’s Archive is the world’s largest open-source non-profit search engine for shadow libraries like Sci-Hub, Library Genesis, and Z-Library.
- The goal is to make knowledge and culture accessible and build a community to archive and preserve all books globally.
- The tech stack is deliberately simple, using Flask, MariaDB, and ElasticSearch to focus on avoiding legal takedowns.
- Legal status varies by jurisdiction; some countries enforce copyright strictly, while others do not.
- Payment methods are limited to cryptocurrencies due to the need for anonymity.
- System architecture involves 'freedom-loving providers' for hosting and proxying through 'cheap providers' to maintain anonymity and redundancy.
- Cloudflare is used as a caching and protection layer, though only the free plan is available due to payment constraints.
- Failover architecture includes domain-level checks to redirect users if a domain is down.
- Tools include Flask, MariaDB, ElasticSearch, Docker, Varnish, Ansible, Checkmk, UFW, Gitlab, Weblate, Zulip, Tor, and Nginx.
- Challenges include server communication issues, tool quirks, and maintaining robustness against takedowns.
- Anna’s Archive seeks donations, grants, sponsors, and contributors to support its mission.
Show HN: I built a FOSS tool to run your Steam games in the Cloud
a year ago
- Cloudy Pad is a free, open-source alternative to cloud gaming platforms like GeForce Now and Blacknut.
- Allows deployment of cloud gaming servers (e.g., Sunshine) globally without needing powerful hardware or subscriptions.
- Supports streaming via Moonlight client and running games through Steam, Pegasus, or Lutris.
- Deployable on AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Scaleway, or Paperspace.
- No need for a screen or virtual screen—Cloudy Pad handles everything.
- Offers 30 hours/month for ~$15 or pay-as-you-go hourly pricing.
- Choice of streaming servers: Sunshine or Wolf.
- Features cost reduction tools like automated alerts, spot instances (up to 90% cheaper), and auto-shutdown of inactive instances.
- Currently experimental—feedback, bug reports, and contributions are welcome.
- Licensed under GNU General Public License v3.0.
Using Microsoft's New CLI Text Editor on Ubuntu
a year ago
- Microsoft's new open-source CLI text editor, Edit, is a remake of the old MS-DOS Editor, built with Rust.
- Edit offers a modern interface similar to VS Code, designed for accessibility and ease of use.
- Primary target is Windows, but it also works on Linux and macOS, though Linux users might prefer alternatives like vim or nano.
- Edit is modeless, making it more intuitive than multi-mode editors like Vim, with support for both mouse and keyboard.
- Features include Find and Replace, word wrap, tab/space indentation, file encoding settings, and multiple file support.
- Edit lacks syntax highlighting, color schemes, and other advanced features, focusing on simplicity and speed.
- Open-source nature allows for modification and distribution by users.
- Installation on Ubuntu requires manual download and execution of the binary from GitHub, as there are no official packages yet.
Workout.cool – Open-source fitness coaching platform
a year ago
- A comprehensive fitness coaching platform for creating workout plans, tracking progress, and accessing an exercise database with video demonstrations.
- Project origin: Revived from workout.lol due to abandonment after video licensing issues and lack of stakeholder response.
- Quick Start: Requires Node.js 18+, Docker or PostgreSQL, and pnpm/npm. Clone, install dependencies, set up environment variables, and initialize the database.
- Exercise Database Import: Supports CSV import with columns for exercise details, video URLs, and attributes like muscle groups and equipment.
- Project Architecture: Follows Feature-Sliced Design (FSD) with Next.js App Router, ensuring clear domain isolation and reusability.
- Roadmap: Includes mobile app development, gamification, advanced statistics, wearable integration, multilingual support, and OAuth authentication.
- Contributing: Encourages community contributions via forking, feature branches, and pull requests, adhering to TypeScript and FSD best practices.
- Deployment: Supports Docker and traditional builds with database migrations for production.
- License: MIT License, promoting open-source collaboration.
- Sponsorship: Invites donations to support hosting, database updates, and continuous improvement.
Why China is giving away its tech for free
a year ago
- China is adopting open-source software, which is unusual for an authoritarian state.
- Open-source software like Apache, Nginx, Linux, and Kubernetes underpins much of the digital economy.
- These programs are maintained and improved by a global community of developers.
- The article also touches on other topics like corporate culture, JBS's expansion plans, Tesla's robotaxis, and decision-making in companies.
Show HN: MediaCMS v6 – open-source video platform with trimmer and RBAC
a year ago
- MediaCMS is an open-source video and media CMS built with Django and React.
- Supports multiple media types (video, audio, image, PDF) and classification options (categories, tags).
- Features include video trimming, playlists, adaptive streaming (HLS), and multilingual subtitles.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and SAML support for secure access management.
- Self-hosting with Docker Compose or server installation via automation scripts.
- Scalable transcoding with remote worker support and chunked file uploads.
- Customizable branding (logos, fonts) and configurable actions (comments, likes, downloads).
- Used by educational institutions, organizations, and communities for media sharing.
- Deployable via Elestio with one-click setup and revenue-sharing support.
- Licensed under GNU AGPL v3.0, with paid support and customization services available.
Show HN: We are three devs from Kenya and built a Docker alternative in Rust
a year ago
- Three developers from Kenya built Sphere, a Docker alternative, on their phones.
- Sphere is a computational runtime that runs code in a minimal sandbox created and destroyed for each run.
- It ensures reproducibility and isolation without leaving traces on the host system.
- Spheres can declare dependencies, allowing complex applications to be built from simple, verifiable tools.
- Future plans include true security sandboxing, a public registry (SphereHub), and a decentralized cloud (SphereGrid).
- Sphere is open-source (MIT licensed) and the team invites community involvement.
The Reality Check Nobody Talks About: What OSS Costs
a year ago
- Open source development involves significant hidden costs, including money, time, and mental energy.
- Maintaining open source projects requires testing across multiple operating systems and configurations, often leading to unpaid, late-night debugging sessions.
- Open source contributors face hardware and service expenses, such as cloud CI/CD, hosting, and hardware upgrades.
- The mental tax includes handling support requests, security audits, documentation updates, and community management.
- Opportunity cost is substantial, with many contributors donating 25% of their professional capacity without financial compensation.
- Complexity in open source grows as contributors build tools and infrastructure, often requiring deep expertise and commitment.
- Despite the challenges, open source serves as an immutable proof of skill, often bypassing traditional interview processes.
- The article is part of a series exploring the realities of open source development, with upcoming posts on becoming a maintainer and handling legacy support.
Show HN: Resy Reservation Scalper Bot
10 months ago
- Open-source tool for managing restaurant reservations on Resy.com
- Previously a SaaS product, now locally runnable without authentication
- Features include creating/managing reservation tasks, using proxies, scheduling tasks, and bypassing captchas
- Requirements: Python 3.7+, pip, and cloned repository
- Installation involves setting up both client and server dependencies
- Can be started with a single command or separately for server and client
- Client interface allows managing accounts, proxies, tasks, and reservations
- Contributions are welcome via Pull Requests
- Originally had licensing/authentication, now removed for open-source
- Licensed under MIT License
Show HN: Nxtscape – an open-source agentic browser
10 months ago
- Nxtscape is an open-source, privacy-first agentic browser built on Chromium.
- Allows running AI agents locally for productivity boosts without sending data to third parties.
- Features include compatibility with Chrome extensions, local AI agents, privacy-first approach, and open-source transparency.
- Future updates include an MCP store for easy agent installation and a built-in AI ad blocker.
- Differentiates from competitors like Chrome, Brave, and Arc by focusing solely on AI-powered, privacy-first browsing.
- Completely open-source, ensuring users can fork and modify the project if needed.
- Inspired by open-source projects like browser-use, Nanobrowser, and Stagehand, licensed under AGPL-3.0.
Twake – open-source Google Workspace alternative
10 months ago
- Twake Mail offers a scalable and secure solution for growing teams.
- Advanced security measures and antispam shield protect against threats like spam, phishing, and hacking.
- Open Source encrypted data storage ensures secure file storage in the cloud or on your server.
- Files can be shared with partners and teams, combining privacy with an elegant interface.
- Twake is a leading European Open Source force, known for community collaboration and innovation in software, services, and AI.
Show HN: SecureBuild – Zero-CVE Images That Pay OSS Projects
10 months ago
- SecureBuild offers secure, vulnerability-free builds for open source projects.
- Partnership with SecureBuild generates recurring revenue without support contracts.
- Trusted by leading open source projects with over 200k stars.
- SecureBuild maps and secures dependency graphs, fixing vulnerabilities.
- New SecureBuilds are created with a 6-day SLA for critical vulnerabilities.
- Revenue sharing: 70% to maintainers, 30% to SecureBuild.
- Benefits for open source projects include sustainable revenue and expanded user base.
- Enterprise users benefit from enhanced security and simplified compliance.
- SecureBuild provides enterprise access to secure, zero-CVE builds.
- Frequently asked questions and partnership details available.

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#open-source

Denmark Wants to Dump Microsoft Software for Linux, LibreOffice

What Is Open Source?

Delightful Commons List

Open Steno Project

Twin – A Textmode WINdow Environment

Darklang Goes Open Source

Yet another European government is ditching Microsoft for Linux – here's why

Fossify – A suite of open-source, ad-free apps

How to run a shadow library: operations at Anna's Archive (2023)

Show HN: I built a FOSS tool to run your Steam games in the Cloud

Using Microsoft's New CLI Text Editor on Ubuntu

Workout.cool – Open-source fitness coaching platform

Why China is giving away its tech for free

Show HN: MediaCMS v6 – open-source video platform with trimmer and RBAC

Show HN: We are three devs from Kenya and built a Docker alternative in Rust

The Reality Check Nobody Talks About: What OSS Costs

Show HN: Resy Reservation Scalper Bot

Show HN: Nxtscape – an open-source agentic browser

Twake – open-source Google Workspace alternative

Show HN: SecureBuild – Zero-CVE Images That Pay OSS Projects