Re: [OT] Why I don't like github [was: Please help to test latest Debian 11 release candidate on real] hardware
On Sunday 25 July 2021 15:36:26 tomas@tuxteam.de wrote:
> On Sun, Jul 25, 2021 at 07:43:10PM +0100, Brian wrote:
> > On Sun 25 Jul 2021 at 09:34:42 +0200, tomas@tuxteam.de wrote:
> > > On Sat, Jul 24, 2021 at 04:27:23PM -0400, Jim Popovitch wrote:
> > > > Why isn't this on Salsa instead of a Microsoft site?
> > >
> > > ...you're right. I won't touch github unless I'm forced to :-(
> >
> > I went to
> >
> > https://github.com/alexpevzner/sane-airscan
> >
> > and found it full of very useful information. You will explain why
> > Microsoft's involvement in the site should make me wary of advising
> > users to go there?
>
> It is subtle, and you might disagree.
>
> I always wondered why github was worth 7.5 billion to Microsoft [1].
> Surely it seemed a bit steep for "just" generating good will in the
> "open source" (as they choose to call it) community?
>
> Of course, github succeeded in one thing: they managed to centralise
> git, which is inherently decentral. Many people these days see github
> as a synonym to git and can't bother to use git without github's
> shiny web interface.
>
> This was, even before the acquisition, enough reason for me to keep
> as much distance as possible between github and myself.
>
> But still, 7.5B?
>
> Now, with github copilot [2], things start making sense: github users
> get support from an AI (GPT-3) for which Microsoft has an exclusive
> license (only the service is available for mere mortals).
>
> They now have a strategic position on how code is written "out there",
> at least, they hope to have it.
>
> Personally, I very much dislike the situation. It very much reminds
> me of "The Evitable Conflict" [3] from Isaac Asimov, with the little
> wart that Microsoft isn't bound by the Three Laws of Robotics, but
> just by their shareholder value :-)
>
> Cheers
>
> [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Github#Acquisition_by_Microsoft
> [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GitHub_Copilot
> [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Evitable_Conflict
>
> - t
+100 Tomas, as it gives them free access to "borrow" some of the best
code out there. So the comparison to the underhanded compuserve and
apple (remember gif and firewire?) as a future dagger in our back is
very real. The face we see is ok, so far. But be prepared to face them
in court with evidence predating any copyright claims they may come up
with.
Personally, that leapard has not changed its spots anymore than a real
one can.
Cheers, Gene Heskett
--
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)
If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.
- Louis D. Brandeis
Genes Web page <http://geneslinuxbox.net:6309/gene>
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