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Today FUTO released an application called Grayjay for Android-based mobile phones. Louis Rossmann introduced the application in a video (YouTube link). Grayjay as an application is very promising, but there is one point I take issue with: Grayjay is not an Open Source application. In the video Louis explains his reason behind the custom license, and while I do agree with his reason, I strong disagree with his method. In this post I will explain what Open Source means, how Grayjay does not meet the criteria, why this is an issue, and how it can be solved.

  • splendoruranium@infosec.pubEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    what? no! licenses are how authors are deciding to grant specific permissions on their copyright.

    Sure. But that does not contradict what I wrote.

    that is like saying because you found a book in a library you have the choice to copy it and sell it.

    That is precisely the choice one has. It’s a choice one doesn’t have when one doesn’t know the contents of the book or when they are confronted with closed-source software.

    the fact that source is available does not grant any permission besides looking at it.

    Yes I agree. “Making the choice” would require making it without the author’s permission.
    But again, I’m not talking about permissions as I don’t really consider them to be nearly as important as availability and ability. One has the ability to modify/use code with the source and without permission one does not have the ability to modify/use code without the source and with permission.

    So yes, Libre is nice, but the source-open aspect is always the most important component.