From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

Linux is supposed to be free, not free with constant nags about donating.
If you want to donate, go buy a Windows release and donate your money to
them.

As far as Linux goes, the whole concept behind it and the various distros
is that it is free. Free, as in no money needed to use. Not free as in
it's free to use but we are going to pester you to no end to donate to
keep it free.

If the maintainers of the distros can't afford to maintain them, let 'em
die off. There are around 600 distributions currently maintained with
about 500 of them still in active development. There are many, many
options for freedom.

When Linux first arrived on the scene, it would have been almost literal apostasy among the nerd fiefdoms online if someone had asked them for
money and they would have abandoned it faster than an eye could blink.

Now it's almost like a guilt trip is played on you if you don't *donate*. Let's go back to how it was years ago and bring the purity back to Linux,
the FREEdom, the excitement. Down with the commercialization.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc


You are overly sensitive to requests for donations and unrealistic about
the expense associated with creating and maintaining a distribution.
This is not commercialization as it creates no profit.

On 12/10/25 15:49, CtrlAltDel wrote:

Linux is supposed to be free, not free with constant nags about donating.
If you want to donate, go buy a Windows release and donate your money to them.

As far as Linux goes, the whole concept behind it and the various distros
is that it is free. Free, as in no money needed to use. Not free as in
it's free to use but we are going to pester you to no end to donate to
keep it free.

If the maintainers of the distros can't afford to maintain them, let 'em
die off. There are around 600 distributions currently maintained with
about 500 of them still in active development. There are many, many
options for freedom.

When Linux first arrived on the scene, it would have been almost literal apostasy among the nerd fiefdoms online if someone had asked them for
money and they would have abandoned it faster than an eye could blink.

It is GNU/Linux and formerly young and maniac coders are older now, need more
acetaminophen and a new disk drive. As well as coffee.

Now it's almost like a guilt trip is played on you if you don't *donate*. Let's go back to how it was years ago and bring the purity back to Linux,
the FREEdom, the excitement. Down with the commercialization.

Foolish idealist. Stop wasting your money on other than computing.


bliss- Dell Precision 7730- PCLOS 2025.12 Linux 6.12.60-pclos1- KDE
Plasma 6.5.3
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:54:33 -0800, Bobbie Sellers wrote:

You are overly sensitive to requests for donations and unrealistic about
the expense associated with creating and maintaining a distribution.
This is not commercialization as it creates no profit.

Money, give us money, money, money, money so that we can keep your
favorite distro free. :-) Right, it's not commercialization and it's not about money at all, just donate and please donate often.

A lot of televangelists that come on late at night also want money, money, money, and it's also not about money but about the salvation of your soul
and not all about their personal enrichment.

It is GNU/Linux and formerly young and maniac coders are older

now,

need more acetaminophen and a new disk drive. As well as coffee.

Sounds like a personal issue for them.

Foolish idealist. Stop wasting your money on other than computing.

I don't waste money at all, and certainly not on something as frivolous as home computing. That was kind of the point of the post.


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:54:33 -0800, Bobbie Sellers wrote:

You are overly sensitive to requests for donations and unrealistic about
the expense associated with creating and maintaining a distribution.
This is not commercialization as it creates no profit.

Some people have reported getting a KDE popup suggesting a donation. I've
got KDE on two machines and haven't seen it although I did throw them a
few bucks.

I am getting a little weary of everyone with their hand out this time of
year.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc



On 12/10/25 19:42, rbowman wrote:

On Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:54:33 -0800, Bobbie Sellers wrote:

You are overly sensitive to requests for donations and unrealistic about
the expense associated with creating and maintaining a distribution.
This is not commercialization as it creates no profit.

Some people have reported getting a KDE popup suggesting a donation. I've
got KDE on two machines and haven't seen it although I did throw them a
few bucks.

I am getting a little weary of everyone with their hand out this time of year.

Well I have seen it but as my living expenses are way up since
I got out of the hospital in April I cannot afford any more donations.
I donate to PCLinuxOS and to Thunderbird and PBS. Thunderbird
forgets from one month to the next that I donate. If I could squeeze
out more money it would likely go on debts accumulated since my
surgery(Ankle Fusion) in January. Every day I get solicitations from
various politicians which are impossible for me to deal with so I
unsubscribe to any but local and state campaigns. When not in
the mood to unsubcribe I just delete those emails.

I do not consider "home computing" to be frivolous though
perhaps it is. I used to ride motorcycles and they were expensive
and perhaps totally frivolous but it was great before I turned 46
and lost the ability to work for a living. Then one day I realized
that the expense associated with insurance and parking were
meals I was not eating and so I got rid of the bike and saved a
fair amount of income by doing so.

bliss- Dell Precision 7730- PCLOS 2025.12 Linux 6.12.60-pclos1- KDE
Plasma 6.5.3

bliss
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

In <10hdbpa$1ul7a$1@dont-email.me> Bobbie Sellers:

You are overly sensitive to requests for donations and unrealistic about
the expense associated with creating and maintaining a distribution.
This is not commercialization as it creates no profit.

On 12/10/25 15:49, CtrlAltDel wrote:

[Snip...]

CAD is a boring troll, going back years, that I plonked long ago. Jez sayin' ...
--
Regards, Weird (Harold Stevens) * IMPORTANT EMAIL INFO FOLLOWS *
Pardon any bogus email addresses (wookie) in place for spambots.
Really, it's (wyrd) at att, dotted with net. * DO NOT SPAM IT. *
I toss (404) GoogleGroup (404 http://twovoyagers.com/improve-usenet.org/).
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 2025-12-11 00:49, CtrlAltDel wrote:

Linux is supposed to be free, not free with constant nags about donating.
If you want to donate, go buy a Windows release and donate your money to them.

Just because you say it, I'm tempted to donate. :-P
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc



On 12/11/25 01:27, Harold Stevens wrote:

In <10hdbpa$1ul7a$1@dont-email.me> Bobbie Sellers:

You are overly sensitive to requests for donations and unrealistic about
the expense associated with creating and maintaining a distribution.
This is not commercialization as it creates no profit.

On 12/10/25 15:49, CtrlAltDel wrote:

[Snip...]

CAD is a boring troll, going back years, that I plonked long ago. Jez sayin' ...

Thanks for the advice, Harold.

bliss- Dell Precision 7730- PCLOS 2025.12 Linux 6.12.60-pclos1- KDE
Plasma 6.5.4


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:56:12 -0800, Bobbie Sellers wrote:

Thanks for the advice, Harold.

Don't believe everything you read, Bobbie. I've never had any interaction
with this person named Harold and have no idea who he is. Perhaps he has
me confused with another poster.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

CtrlAltDel <Altie@bham.com> wrote:

Linux is supposed to be free, not free with constant nags about donating.
If you want to donate, go buy a Windows release and donate your money to them.

As far as Linux goes, the whole concept behind it and the various distros
is that it is free. Free, as in no money needed to use. Not free as in it's free to use but we are going to pester you to no end to donate to
keep it free.

Tiny Core Linux for one not only doesn't ask for monetary
donations, but even has a policy not to accept them:

https://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,3977.msg20811.html

But of course the Linux kernel project itself will happily take your
money, so if you _really_ don't like donations then you're using
the wrong OS. Although I don't know what the right one would be,
probably one with very few hardware drivers available.

Now it's almost like a guilt trip is played on you if you don't *donate*. Let's go back to how it was years ago and bring the purity back to Linux, the FREEdom, the excitement. Down with the commercialization.

All else being equal I prefer a software project which doesn't get
or ask for lots of donations. For one thing it means the authors
are passionately trying to build something they want to use
themselves, rather than returning to the conventional motivation of
chasing the money. The former often results in more focused design
decisions that I prefer. Others prefer software that does try to
clone commercial offerings, like LibreOffice, though.
--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _#
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

CtrlAltDel wrote:

Linux is supposed to be free, not free with constant nags about donating.
If you want to donate, go buy a Windows release and donate your money to them.

As far as Linux goes, the whole concept behind it and the various distros
is that it is free. Free, as in no money needed to use. Not free as in
it's free to use but we are going to pester you to no end to donate to
keep it free.

If the maintainers of the distros can't afford to maintain them, let 'em
die off. There are around 600 distributions currently maintained with
about 500 of them still in active development. There are many, many
options for freedom.

When Linux first arrived on the scene, it would have been almost literal apostasy among the nerd fiefdoms online if someone had asked them for
money and they would have abandoned it faster than an eye could blink.

Now it's almost like a guilt trip is played on you if you don't *donate*. Let's go back to how it was years ago and bring the purity back to Linux,
the FREEdom, the excitement. Down with the commercialization.

I think if you're using software that constantly nags you about donating, you're using the wrong software.

A software project accepting donations isn't a problem. It's nice to support things you rely on, not because you need to but because it's a good thing
to do if and when you can. To say people who work on things you don't even
need to pay for don't deserve or get anything because it is supposed to
be "free" is terrible and I will gladly show you the door.

Sure, don't pay a cent to anybody if you don't want to, but saying that
Linux and its software shouldn't accept donations just makes you look
cheap, especially if the only way they are asking is a small donate button somewhere on their homepage. This isn't "commercialization", people need
money to live.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:21:51 -0600, kouya wrote:

A software project accepting donations isn't a problem. It's nice to
support things you rely on, not because you need to but because it's a
good thing to do if and when you can. To say people who work on things
you don't even need to pay for don't deserve or get anything because it
is supposed to be "free" is terrible and I will gladly show you the
door.

Sure, don't pay a cent to anybody if you don't want to, but saying that
Linux and its software shouldn't accept donations just makes you look
cheap, especially if the only way they are asking is a small donate
button somewhere on their homepage. This isn't "commercialization",
people need money to live.

Or, they could get a job and do any OS development as a hobby and when
they have free time. That is how it should be, pure and for the love of
the ideal, not the money. If they can't bear to do something without
getting paid, concerning Linux distro development, don't do it. Simple.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 12 Dec 2025 06:37:51 +1000, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

Tiny Core Linux for one not only doesn't ask for monetary donations, but
even has a policy not to accept them:

https://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,3977.msg20811.html

But of course the Linux kernel project itself will happily take your
money, so if you _really_ don't like donations then you're using the
wrong OS. Although I don't know what the right one would be, probably
one with very few hardware drivers available.

Now it's almost like a guilt trip is played on you if you don't
*donate*.
Let's go back to how it was years ago and bring the purity back to
Linux,
the FREEdom, the excitement. Down with the commercialization.

All else being equal I prefer a software project which doesn't get or
ask for lots of donations. For one thing it means the authors are passionately trying to build something they want to use themselves,
rather than returning to the conventional motivation of chasing the
money. The former often results in more focused design decisions that I prefer. Others prefer software that does try to clone commercial
offerings, like LibreOffice, though.

Wow, thanks for the link to TinyCoreLinux, Kev. That is exactly the type
of setup I was envisioning when I created this thread.

Do it for the enjoyment of doing it, not for nasty and uncouth greed.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

CtrlAltDel <Altie@BHam.com> writes:

On Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:21:51 -0600, kouya wrote:

A software project accepting donations isn't a problem. It's nice to
support things you rely on, not because you need to but because it's
a good thing to do if and when you can. To say people who work on
things you don't even need to pay for don't deserve or get anything
because it is supposed to be "free" is terrible and I will gladly
show you the door.

Sure, don't pay a cent to anybody if you don't want to, but saying
that Linux and its software shouldn't accept donations just makes you
look cheap, especially if the only way they are asking is a small
donate button somewhere on their homepage. This isn't
"commercialization", people need money to live.

Or, they could get a job and do any OS development as a hobby and when
they have free time. That is how it should be, pure and for the love
of the ideal, not the money. If they can't bear to do something
without getting paid, concerning Linux distro development, don't do
it. Simple.

Of course the same should apply to whatever it is you do for a living.

Linux has been a funded project for decades, more than half its
existence. If you prefer to use hobby platforms, you will have to look elsewhere.
--
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

CtrlAltDel wrote:

On Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:21:51 -0600, kouya wrote:

Or, they could get a job and do any OS development as a hobby and when
they have free time. That is how it should be, pure and for the love of
the ideal, not the money. If they can't bear to do something without
getting paid, concerning Linux distro development, don't do it. Simple.

I feel like you're just entirely trolling at this point. They do it without getting paid regardless. Most jobs don't pay enough to afford the bills
right now, and perusing their hobby still takes time out of their day. This isn't free software developers being greedy, it's you being a complete and utter cheapskate. Sorry, free software does not mean you get to insert your communist idealogy. Stop being an ass.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

CtrlAltDel wrote:

Linux is supposed to be free, not free with constant nags about donating.
If you want to donate, go buy a Windows release and donate your money to them.

As far as Linux goes, the whole concept behind it and the various distros
is that it is free. Free, as in no money needed to use. Not free as in
it's free to use but we are going to pester you to no end to donate to
keep it free.

If the maintainers of the distros can't afford to maintain them, let 'em
die off. There are around 600 distributions currently maintained with
about 500 of them still in active development. There are many, many
options for freedom.

When Linux first arrived on the scene, it would have been almost literal apostasy among the nerd fiefdoms online if someone had asked them for
money and they would have abandoned it faster than an eye could blink.

Now it's almost like a guilt trip is played on you if you don't *donate*. Let's go back to how it was years ago and bring the purity back to Linux,
the FREEdom, the excitement. Down with the commercialization.

Respectfully, because I don't take pleasure in shouting vulgarities in
public: This is either a very obvious troll post or you have shockingly
little idea what you are talking about.

It takes less than thirty seconds to, upon hearing the term "free
software", check your search engine, and find decades worth of
educational and historical material about how it, infact, has nothing to
do with being commercial or not.

Donations are not commercial either. Every non-profit or charity off the
top of my head begs for donations.

This post was so terrible it made me finally bother registering for usenet.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote at 03:42 this Thursday (GMT):

On Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:54:33 -0800, Bobbie Sellers wrote:

You are overly sensitive to requests for donations and unrealistic about
the expense associated with creating and maintaining a distribution.
This is not commercialization as it creates no profit.

Some people have reported getting a KDE popup suggesting a donation. I've got KDE on two machines and haven't seen it although I did throw them a
few bucks.

I am getting a little weary of everyone with their hand out this time of year.

'tis the season?
--
user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 2025-12-12, bonkmaykr wrote:

CtrlAltDel wrote:

Linux is supposed to be free, not free with constant nags about donating.
If you want to donate, go buy a Windows release and donate your money to
them.

As far as Linux goes, the whole concept behind it and the various distros
is that it is free. Free, as in no money needed to use. Not free as in
it's free to use but we are going to pester you to no end to donate to
keep it free.

If the maintainers of the distros can't afford to maintain them, let 'em
die off. There are around 600 distributions currently maintained with
about 500 of them still in active development. There are many, many
options for freedom.

When Linux first arrived on the scene, it would have been almost literal
apostasy among the nerd fiefdoms online if someone had asked them for
money and they would have abandoned it faster than an eye could blink.

Now it's almost like a guilt trip is played on you if you don't *donate*.
Let's go back to how it was years ago and bring the purity back to Linux,
the FREEdom, the excitement. Down with the commercialization.

Respectfully, because I don't take pleasure in shouting vulgarities in public: This is either a very obvious troll post or you have
shockingly little idea what you are talking about.

It takes less than thirty seconds to, upon hearing the term "free
software", check your search engine, and find decades worth of
educational and historical material about how it, infact, has nothing
to do with being commercial or not.

Donations are not commercial either. Every non-profit or charity off
the top of my head begs for donations.

This post was so terrible it made me finally bother registering for usenet.

I think historically "commercial software" might have been used to refer
to what's nowadays called "proprietary software". But this observation
isn't from experience, but rather from a faint recollection of seeing
this referred to in a magazine issue commenting on covers of much
earlier issues of that magazine (was it "Linux Journal"?).

Some posts on this thread make me think it's worth pointing out that, on
the aftermath of CVE-2024-3094 [1], one of the things that was debated
and raised was the need to fund people working on free software for free
more, not less.

[1] "Jia Tan"'s liblzma backdoor, https://enwp.org/CVE-2024-3094


(Also, a warm welcome to USENET!)
--
Nuno Silva
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On Fri, 12 Dec 2025 21:50:03 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07 wrote:

rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote at 03:42 this Thursday (GMT):

On Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:54:33 -0800, Bobbie Sellers wrote:

You are overly sensitive to requests for donations and unrealistic
about the expense associated with creating and maintaining a
distribution. This is not commercialization as it creates no profit.

Some people have reported getting a KDE popup suggesting a donation.
I've got KDE on two machines and haven't seen it although I did throw
them a few bucks.

I am getting a little weary of everyone with their hand out this time
of year.

'tis the season?

My Christmas playlist. Bah. Humbug.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTx-sdR6Yzk
'The Season's Upon Us' Dropkick Murphys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8
'Fairytale of New York' The Pogues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li8GrxE1jfg
'Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas' John Denver






--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:48:53 -0600, bonkmaykr wrote:

Respectfully, because I don't take pleasure in shouting vulgarities in public: This is either a very obvious troll post or you have shockingly little idea what you are talking about.

It takes less than thirty seconds to, upon hearing the term "free
software", check your search engine, and find decades worth of
educational and historical material about how it, infact, has nothing to
do with being commercial or not.

Donations are not commercial either. Every non-profit or charity off the
top of my head begs for donations.

This post was so terrible it made me finally bother registering for
usenet.

Bongmaker, the whole idea of Linux and the distros and Linux programs was
that it was free for everyone. No more money grubbing Windows.

If everyone wants to charge for a distro, charge for a program, beg/demand donations or shame the users who don't wish to participate, etc... what is
the difference between the Linux ecosystem and Windows?

There should be no requests for donations in association with anything to
do with Linux.

The purity of the whole concept is being rapidly eroded and being replaced with opportunist vultures. If you love Linux, keep it free and keep it for
the people, not the corporations.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

rbowman wrote:

candycanearter07 wrote:

'tis the season?

My Christmas playlist. Bah. Humbug.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTx-sdR6Yzk
'The Season's Upon Us' Dropkick Murphys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8
'Fairytale of New York' The Pogues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li8GrxE1jfg
'Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas' John Denver

The only Christmas song I never seem to tire of, I don't think an
official video exists.

<https://youtu.be/nud2TQNahaU>
'Christmas Wrapping' The Waitresses

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

CtrlAltDel <Altie@BHam.com> writes:

Bongmaker, the whole idea of Linux and the distros and Linux programs was that it was free for everyone. No more money grubbing Windows.

If everyone wants to charge for a distro, charge for a program, beg/demand donations or shame the users who don't wish to participate, etc... what is the difference between the Linux ecosystem and Windows?

There should be no requests for donations in association with anything
to do with Linux.

The purity of the whole concept is being rapidly eroded and being
replaced with opportunist vultures. If you love Linux, keep it free
and keep it for the people, not the corporations.

It is still free. You can easily get Linux without paying a single penny/cent/whatever. You are imagining a nonexistent problem and then
getting mad about it.
--
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 2025-12-13 11:01, Andy Burns wrote:

rbowman wrote:

candycanearter07 wrote:

'tis the season?

My Christmas playlist. Bah. Humbug.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTx-sdR6Yzk
'The Season's Upon Us'   Dropkick Murphys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8
'Fairytale of New York'  The Pogues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li8GrxE1jfg
'Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas'  John Denver

The only Christmas song I never seem to tire of, I don't think an
official video exists.

<https://youtu.be/nud2TQNahaU>
'Christmas Wrapping'  The Waitresses

Patricia Jean Donahue was the lead vocalist of the American new wave
band the Waitresses, most active in the 1980s. She is best known for the band's singles "I Know What Boys Like" and "Christmas Wrapping". Wikipedia Born: March 29, 1956, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Died: December 9, 1996 (age 40 years), New York, New York, United States
Music group: The Waitresses
Education: Saint Joseph Academy

That youtube has several scenes taken from this: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bWUFz73wKM>
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 2025-12-12 21:30, kouya wrote:

CtrlAltDel wrote:

On Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:21:51 -0600, kouya wrote:

Or, they could get a job and do any OS development as a hobby and when
they have free time. That is how it should be, pure and for the love of
the ideal, not the money. If they can't bear to do something without
getting paid, concerning Linux distro development, don't do it. Simple.

I feel like you're just entirely trolling at this point. They do it without getting paid regardless. Most jobs don't pay enough to afford the bills
right now, and perusing their hobby still takes time out of their day. This isn't free software developers being greedy, it's you being a complete and utter cheapskate. Sorry, free software does not mean you get to insert your communist idealogy. Stop being an ass.

Even communists get paid.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 2025-12-13 10:33, CtrlAltDel wrote:

On Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:48:53 -0600, bonkmaykr wrote:

Respectfully, because I don't take pleasure in shouting vulgarities in
public: This is either a very obvious troll post or you have shockingly
little idea what you are talking about.

It takes less than thirty seconds to, upon hearing the term "free
software", check your search engine, and find decades worth of
educational and historical material about how it, infact, has nothing to
do with being commercial or not.

Donations are not commercial either. Every non-profit or charity off the
top of my head begs for donations.

This post was so terrible it made me finally bother registering for
usenet.

Bongmaker, the whole idea of Linux and the distros and Linux programs was that it was free for everyone. No more money grubbing Windows.

Free, not necessarily gratis. You are confusing both.

...
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 2025-12-13 00:46, Nuno Silva wrote:

On 2025-12-12, bonkmaykr wrote:

CtrlAltDel wrote:

Linux is supposed to be free, not free with constant nags about donating. >>> If you want to donate, go buy a Windows release and donate your money to >>> them.

As far as Linux goes, the whole concept behind it and the various distros >>> is that it is free. Free, as in no money needed to use. Not free as in >>> it's free to use but we are going to pester you to no end to donate to
keep it free.

If the maintainers of the distros can't afford to maintain them, let 'em >>> die off. There are around 600 distributions currently maintained with
about 500 of them still in active development. There are many, many
options for freedom.

When Linux first arrived on the scene, it would have been almost literal >>> apostasy among the nerd fiefdoms online if someone had asked them for
money and they would have abandoned it faster than an eye could blink.

Now it's almost like a guilt trip is played on you if you don't *donate*. >>> Let's go back to how it was years ago and bring the purity back to Linux, >>> the FREEdom, the excitement. Down with the commercialization.

Respectfully, because I don't take pleasure in shouting vulgarities in
public: This is either a very obvious troll post or you have
shockingly little idea what you are talking about.

It takes less than thirty seconds to, upon hearing the term "free
software", check your search engine, and find decades worth of
educational and historical material about how it, infact, has nothing
to do with being commercial or not.

Donations are not commercial either. Every non-profit or charity off
the top of my head begs for donations.

This post was so terrible it made me finally bother registering for usenet.

I think historically "commercial software" might have been used to refer
to what's nowadays called "proprietary software". But this observation
isn't from experience, but rather from a faint recollection of seeing
this referred to in a magazine issue commenting on covers of much
earlier issues of that magazine (was it "Linux Journal"?).

Some posts on this thread make me think it's worth pointing out that, on
the aftermath of CVE-2024-3094 [1], one of the things that was debated
and raised was the need to fund people working on free software for free more, not less.

Indeed, some devs have abandoned, because so many patches required
becomes a non paid job, no more joy. There was a recent link, can't find
it. Related to google sending a ton of found issues by IA review, perhaps?

[1] "Jia Tan"'s liblzma backdoor, https://enwp.org/CVE-2024-3094

(Also, a warm welcome to USENET!)

Ditto.




AI Overview

It is a common issue for free and open-source software (FOSS) projects
to be abandoned due to maintainer burnout, lack of financial incentive,
and the constant, often unrewarding, task of patching and maintenance.

The challenges leading to project abandonment include:

* Burnout and Mental Health: Open-source maintainers of vital
libraries often face burnout due to the overwhelming emotional toll,
constant demands from users, and the sheer weight of responsibility for
the project's security and stability.

* Lack of Financial Compensation: Many developers create and
maintain projects in their free time without pay. The lack of
significant financial incentive to maintain and update the software
makes it difficult to justify the time and effort required, especially
when compared to a full-time job.

* "Tired of Patching" (Maintenance Fatigue): Developers often find
the continuous cycle of fixing bugs and maintaining old code to be
difficult and less appealing than working on new, "greenfield" projects
that use modern technology. The endless loop of fixing one bug only to potentially create another can be exhausting.

* Lack of Recognition and Support: Maintainers often report feeling unappreciated, dealing with ungrateful comments or demands from users
who don't understand the effort involved in maintaining a free project.

* Career Concerns: Working on older projects for maintenance might
not help a developer's career progression, as the technologies used
might be outdated. Developers may prefer to work with newer stacks
(e.g., React instead of JQuery) to keep their market value current.

* Life Priorities: Personal life changes, new jobs, or simply
wanting to work on something else are also significant factors in
developers leaving projects behind.

When projects are abandoned, it can leave users open to security risks
if outdated components continue to be used in other software,
highlighting the real-world impact of maintainer fatigue in the FOSS ecosystem. The community sometimes responds by forking the project to
continue development under new maintenance.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2025-12-13 00:46, Nuno Silva wrote:

On 2025-12-12, bonkmaykr wrote:

CtrlAltDel wrote:

Linux is supposed to be free, not free with constant nags about
donating.
If you want to donate, go buy a Windows release and donate your
money to
them.

As far as Linux goes, the whole concept behind it and the various
distros
is that it is free.  Free, as in no money needed to use.  Not free
as in
it's free to use but we are going to pester you to no end to donate to >>>> keep it free.

If the maintainers of the distros can't afford to maintain them, let
'em
die off. There are around 600 distributions currently maintained with
about 500 of them still in active development. There are many, many
options for freedom.

When Linux first arrived on the scene, it would have been almost
literal
apostasy among the nerd fiefdoms online if someone had asked them for
money and they would have abandoned it faster than an eye could blink. >>>>
Now it's almost like a guilt trip is played on you if you don't
*donate*.
Let's go back to how it was years ago and bring the purity back to
Linux,
the FREEdom, the excitement.  Down with the commercialization.

Respectfully, because I don't take pleasure in shouting vulgarities in
public: This is either a very obvious troll post or you have
shockingly little idea what you are talking about.

It takes less than thirty seconds to, upon hearing the term "free
software", check your search engine, and find decades worth of
educational and historical material about how it, infact, has nothing
to do with being commercial or not.

Donations are not commercial either. Every non-profit or charity off
the top of my head begs for donations.

This post was so terrible it made me finally bother registering for
usenet.

I think historically "commercial software" might have been used to refer
to what's nowadays called "proprietary software". But this observation
isn't from experience, but rather from a faint recollection of seeing
this referred to in a magazine issue commenting on covers of much
earlier issues of that magazine (was it "Linux Journal"?).

Some posts on this thread make me think it's worth pointing out that, on
the aftermath of CVE-2024-3094 [1], one of the things that was debated
and raised was the need to fund people working on free software for free
more, not less.

Indeed, some devs have abandoned, because so many patches required
becomes a non paid job, no more joy. There was a recent link, can't find
it. Related to google sending a ton of found issues by IA review, perhaps?

[1] "Jia Tan"'s liblzma backdoor, https://enwp.org/CVE-2024-3094


(Also, a warm welcome to USENET!)

Ditto.

AI Overview

It is a common issue for free and open-source software (FOSS) projects
to be abandoned due to maintainer burnout, lack of financial incentive,
and the constant, often unrewarding, task of patching and maintenance.

The challenges leading to project abandonment include:

...

I am reminded of the recent controversy between Google's "security team"
and FFMPEG, with Google submitting ridiculous amounts of bug reports and
not contributing patches, and the FFMPEG maintainers complaining they do
not have the resources to write fixes for them all. This isn't an
uncommon thing for FOSS developers once they're depended on, despite the
clear disclaimers that they provide zero warranty.

What one thinks of the value of Free Software is ultimately subjective,
but the entitlement from some of the people who use it is disappointing.
I would expect the average user should be more sympathetic towards
developers that are waiving their control over their own project for
almost solely the user's benefit.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

Le 10-12-2025, CtrlAltDel <Altie@BHam.com> a écrit :

Linux is supposed to be free, not free with constant nags about donating.
If you want to donate, go buy a Windows release and donate your money to them.

It's impressive. You managed to be stupider than FF/LP/NV/DG/whatever. I
didn't believe it was humanly possible without winning a Darwin award.
First your request to find a program to update your hardware DVD player
into a hardware Blu-ray player, then this one. I'm impressed.
--
Si vous avez du temps à perdre :
https://scarpet42.gitlab.io
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

Le 13-12-2025, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> a écrit :

On 2025-12-12 21:30, kouya wrote:

CtrlAltDel wrote:

On Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:21:51 -0600, kouya wrote:

Or, they could get a job and do any OS development as a hobby and when
they have free time. That is how it should be, pure and for the love of >>> the ideal, not the money. If they can't bear to do something without
getting paid, concerning Linux distro development, don't do it. Simple.

I feel like you're just entirely trolling at this point. They do it without >> getting paid regardless. Most jobs don't pay enough to afford the bills
right now, and perusing their hobby still takes time out of their day. This >> isn't free software developers being greedy, it's you being a complete and >> utter cheapskate. Sorry, free software does not mean you get to insert your >> communist idealogy. Stop being an ass.

Even communists get paid.

They don't need to. They need a roof and some food to put in their
stomach. The way they use money for that is just the capitalist way. The
fact that they didn't managed to find a better way to accomplish the
same goal differently tells more about Communists than about communism.
Or maybe not: maybe it tells communism is un unrealistic dream. I don't
know.
--
Si vous avez du temps à perdre :
https://scarpet42.gitlab.io
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

Le 13-12-2025, bonkmaykr <bonkyboo@canithesis.org> a écrit :

This isn't an
uncommon thing for FOSS developers once they're depended on, despite the clear disclaimers that they provide zero warranty.

That disclaimer isn't limited to FOSS. Last time I checked Microsoft
licence, I saw the same guaranty. But if big companies know they can't
sue Microsoft, they believe that guaranty is only there to protect big companies, not FOSS developers.
--
Si vous avez du temps à perdre :
https://scarpet42.gitlab.io
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

Le 13-12-2025, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> a écrit :

On 2025-12-13 10:33, CtrlAltDel wrote:

Bongmaker, the whole idea of Linux and the distros and Linux programs was
that it was free for everyone. No more money grubbing Windows.

Free, not necessarily gratis. You are confusing both.

...

You are answering someone who is confusing hardware and software, so
maybe you are asking for too much.
--
Si vous avez du temps à perdre :
https://scarpet42.gitlab.io
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 07:38:56 -0600, bonkmaykr wrote:

What one thinks of the value of Free Software is ultimately subjective,
but the entitlement from some of the people who use it is disappointing.
I would expect the average user should be more sympathetic towards developers that are waiving their control over their own project for
almost solely the user's benefit.

It's free as in "freedom" and not as in "beer."

GNU/Linux has always been an AMATEUR endeavor, that is the development
is motivated by the love of programming and not by the need for profit.

My view is that if a GNU/Linux developer cannot sustain his efforts
without begging for donations then he should simply get out of the
game.

Sponsorship and donations are available for any project, but they
should never be actively solicited from the user. If someone or
some organization wants to sponsor or donate then there are known
channels for that. But begging the user should be strictly
forbidden.

I maintain my own website, at my own expense, and I don't ever
expect or solicit donations. I am satisfied if my work contributes
to the public good. I do not seek profit therefrom.

FOSS is free as in "freedom" and not as in "beer."
--
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

CtrlAltDel wrote:

Do it for the enjoyment of doing it, not for nasty and uncouth greed.

For the enjoyment of doing it, yes, we all agree.

But occasionally asking for donations, let alone accepting them
(something that is *optional* by definition) in exchange for having
offered countless people something of value for literally nothing and completely waiving control over it, is not "nasty and uncouth greed". Publishing free software at all is the exact opposite of greed.

The FSF and GNU project, who're responsible for much of the moral policy
that modern open source people enforce upon themselves, ask for donations.
--
*bonkmaykr*
Director, Programming Lead
<https://canithesis.org/>
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 11/12/2025 7:49 am, CtrlAltDel wrote:

Linux is supposed to be free, not free with constant nags about donating.
If you want to donate, go buy a Windows release and donate your money to them.

Free will, Your Honor! And you have freedom of speech as well. :)
--
@~@ Simplicity is Beauty! Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch!
/ v \ May the Force and farces be with you! Live long and prosper!!
/( _ )\ https://sites.google.com/site/changmw/
^ ^ https://github.com/changmw/changmw
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

Le 13-12-2025, Farley Flud <fflud@gnu.rocks> a écrit :

On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 07:38:56 -0600, bonkmaykr wrote:

What one thinks of the value of Free Software is ultimately subjective,
but the entitlement from some of the people who use it is disappointing.
I would expect the average user should be more sympathetic towards
developers that are waiving their control over their own project for
almost solely the user's benefit.

It's free as in "freedom" and not as in "beer."

It's free in both ways for the limited mind. You can pay if you want,
you are not required to. The fact that you are answering that way means
only you are fighting about stupidity level instead of fighting about
knowledge level.

The fact that someone doesn't ask you for money doesn't mean it costs
nothing.

GNU/Linux has always been an AMATEUR endeavor,

Linus TORVALDS is very well paid by the FSF to take care of Linux. There
is no definition in any dictionary which could be understood as amateur.

You just proved, once again, your lack of knowledge.

that is the development
is motivated by the love of programming and not by the need for profit.

The good part with programming is you can combine both. Your inability
to do that tells more about you than about possibilities.

My view is that if a GNU/Linux developer cannot sustain his efforts
without begging for donations then he should simply get out of the
game.

As everything, your view is limited. The FOSS developer starts with a
program just done to fit his needs. Then, when the program starts to be
well spread, others are asking improvements. And the FOSS developer
can't provides those improvements on his spare time because he has a job
and other things to do. The only way for the FOSS developer to answer
every request is to switch to a full time job on his program. And as
nobody is willing to employ him to do that, the only way is to ask for donations.

Sponsorship and donations are available for any project, but they
should never be actively solicited from the user.

They are never actively solicited in the tools I'm using.

I maintain my own website, at my own expense, and I don't ever
expect or solicit donations.

Because it costs almost nothing. If you are starting to have tens of
thousands or millions of people looking for it, you will need to put
more of your own money on it to be able to sustain the demand. And when
the money starts to be important the way to see things is starting to
change.

Don't worry, it's only a rhetorical answer, your website will never be
followed by lot of people.

I am satisfied

Good. It's the first time I see you happy. You should try that more
often, it will be better for your health.

if my work contributes to the public good.

It doesn't because nobody knows about it and I don't see how it could.
But it doesn't mean you should stop. With your website you harm no one
so if it makes you feel better you should keep contribute to it.

I do not seek profit therefrom.

Good. Because you won't get any as it is.
--
Si vous avez du temps à perdre :
https://scarpet42.gitlab.io
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

In article <10hg7pd$2lbh5$2@dont-email.me>, CtrlAltDel <Altie@BHam.com> wrote: >Do it for the enjoyment of doing it, not for nasty and uncouth greed.

That's why I write my books--for the enjoyment of it. I give them away
online for free with no ads or tracking.

But sometimes people drop something in the tip jar, and other times they
pay for print copies. I profit from both of these, and greatly
appreciate them. It covers my groceries, which is amazing.

There's a wide middle ground between the joy of doing it and uncouth
greed, just sayin'.

-Beej
--
Brian "Beej Jorgensen" Hall | beej@beej.us
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

Stéphane CARPENTIER <sc@fiat-linux.fr> writes:

Linus TORVALDS is very well paid by the FSF to take care of
Linux. There is no definition in any dictionary which could be
understood as amateur.

AFAIK he is paid by the Linux Foundation, not the FSF.
--
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:01:40 +0000, Andy Burns wrote:

The only Christmas song I never seem to tire of, I don't think an
official video exists.

<https://youtu.be/nud2TQNahaU>
'Christmas Wrapping' The Waitresses

Never heard that one.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 2025-12-13 15:03, Stéphane CARPENTIER wrote:

Le 13-12-2025, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> a écrit :

On 2025-12-12 21:30, kouya wrote:

CtrlAltDel wrote:

On Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:21:51 -0600, kouya wrote:

Or, they could get a job and do any OS development as a hobby and when >>>> they have free time. That is how it should be, pure and for the love of >>>> the ideal, not the money. If they can't bear to do something without
getting paid, concerning Linux distro development, don't do it. Simple. >>>

I feel like you're just entirely trolling at this point. They do it without >>> getting paid regardless. Most jobs don't pay enough to afford the bills
right now, and perusing their hobby still takes time out of their day. This >>> isn't free software developers being greedy, it's you being a complete and >>> utter cheapskate. Sorry, free software does not mean you get to insert your >>> communist idealogy. Stop being an ass.

Even communists get paid.

They don't need to. They need a roof and some food to put in their
stomach. The way they use money for that is just the capitalist way. The
fact that they didn't managed to find a better way to accomplish the
same goal differently tells more about Communists than about communism.
Or maybe not: maybe it tells communism is un unrealistic dream. I don't
know.

Look at China. They claim to be communist.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 2025-12-13 15:09, Stéphane CARPENTIER wrote:

Le 13-12-2025, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> a écrit :

On 2025-12-13 10:33, CtrlAltDel wrote:

Bongmaker, the whole idea of Linux and the distros and Linux programs was >>> that it was free for everyone. No more money grubbing Windows.

Free, not necessarily gratis. You are confusing both.

...

You are answering someone who is confusing hardware and software, so
maybe you are asking for too much.

Oh, I forgot that one. Right.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 2025-12-13 16:52, Stéphane CARPENTIER wrote:

Le 13-12-2025, Farley Flud <fflud@gnu.rocks> a écrit :

On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 07:38:56 -0600, bonkmaykr wrote:

...

GNU/Linux has always been an AMATEUR endeavor,

Linus TORVALDS is very well paid by the FSF to take care of Linux. There
is no definition in any dictionary which could be understood as amateur.

You just proved, once again, your lack of knowledge.

A lot of the kernel people are employees of companies that contribute to
the kernel development. Paid full time to contribute.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc



On 12/13/25 12:41, rbowman wrote:

On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:01:40 +0000, Andy Burns wrote:

The only Christmas song I never seem to tire of, I don't think an
official video exists.

<https://youtu.be/nud2TQNahaU>
'Christmas Wrapping' The Waitresses

Never heard that one.

Stan Freberg's "Green Christmas" <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5IXlfJSEi4>

I was in my early 20s and had discovered Ayn Rand.
But while I invented the double cheese burger I had
not yet attended Nuclear Power School, first I had to go
to Taiwan MAAG to work in the hospital for military and
dependents.
It took me a few years to realize Ayn was an idiot,
overly influenced by her bad experiences in Soviet Russia.

bliss
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On Sat, 13 Dec 2025 16:00:23 -0800, Bobbie Sellers wrote:

Stan Freberg's "Green Christmas" <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5IXlfJSEi4>

The only thing that has changed is the advertising has become more
pervasive.

I was in my early 20s and had discovered Ayn Rand.
But while I invented the double cheese burger I had not yet attended
Nuclear Power School, first I had to go to Taiwan MAAG to work in the hospital for military and dependents.
It took me a few years to realize Ayn was an idiot,
overly influenced by her bad experiences in Soviet Russia.

When I was in high school a girl I thought was sort of hot came in before
the class began and wrote

“I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake
of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.”

Heady stuff, when you're 15. I eventually read the book and realized Rand needed a really good editor with a supply of blue pencils.

Much later I watched the three part series. I was disconcerting since the entire cast was different in each as the actors realized they were doing
their careers irreparable harm and moved on.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Usually_Begins_with_Ayn_Rand

was humorous, at least at the time. By the time I was out of high school
the whole Rand/Branden/Objectivist clown show was falling apart. Her
fiction was mildly interesting but when she tried her hand at philosophy
she was way out of her field. I found it annoying she would never admit
the influence of Striner and Nietzsche while parroting 'A is A' endlessly.



--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:03:48 +0100, Carlos E.R. wrote:

Look at China. They claim to be communist.

It annoys people but I see them as a good example of a National Socialist state.

Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer!

The difference is Han Chinese are the highest form of humanity rather than Indo-Europeans (Aryans).

I've heard rumbling the Xi has been pruning the tree.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2