:githubbub: minor wording update

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Mike Gerwitz 2017-08-01 22:00:33 -04:00
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### GitHubbub! GitHub Does Not Value Software Freedom. ### GitHubbub! GitHub Does Not Value Software Freedom.
<div class="inline-img octoflop">![GitHub](/images/octoright-large.png "GitHubbub!")</div> <div class="inline-img octoflop">
![GitHub](/images/octoright-large.png "GitHub logo rotated 270° to resemble a Copyright symbol")
</div>
If you hit this page expecting to have been taken to my GitHub profile, then If you hit this page expecting to have been taken to my GitHub profile,
this is probably not what you were looking for. But let me tell you why then this is probably not what you were looking for;
you're here. but let me tell you why you're here.
Before providing a link to something hosted on a service, it is wise to Before providing a link to something hosted on a service,
consider whether doing so is a good idea---whether the service or website it is important to consider whether the service or website is antithetical
is antithetical to the message you are trying to send to your to the message you are trying to convey to your readers/visitors,
readers/visitors, or whether it deserves clarification. There's a little and whether it deserves clarification;
bit of both here. there's a little bit of both here.
If you're looking for a host friendly toward free software, take a look at If you're looking for a host friendly toward free software,
the [GNU ethical repository criteria][gnu-repo], which sets standards for take a look at the [GNU ethical repository criteria][gnu-repo],
acceptable hosts of parts of the [GNU operating system][gnu]. which sets standards for acceptable hosts to parts of the
[GNU operating system][gnu].
#### Non-Free JavaScript #### Non-Free JavaScript
[Free software][freesw] guarantees your freedom to study, modify, and share [Free software][freesw] guarantees your freedom to study,
the software that you use. We value these freedoms on the desktop, so why modify,
should we compromise when websites serve proprietary JavaScript and share the software that you use.
[just because it creates the illusion of remote execution][whyfreejs]? When We value these freedoms on the desktop,
you visit a website that serves JavaScript to the client, your web browser so why should we compromise when websites serve proprietary JavaScript
is automatically [downloading and executing (often without your permission) [just because it creates the illusion of remote execution][whyfreejs]?
untrusted software][jstrap]. If that JavaScript is not When you visit a website that serves JavaScript to the client,
[freely licensed][librejs], then the software running in your web browser your web browser is automatically [downloading and executing][jstrap]
is proprietary. (often without your permission) ephemeral, unsigned, untrusted software.
If that JavaScript is not [freely licensed][librejs],
then the software running in your web browser is proprietary.
**When you visit `github.com`, you download over 200kB of obfuscated code, **When you visit `github.com`,
much of which is proprietary.** This code provides many website features you download over 200kB of obfuscated code,
that are fairly essential, and *do not work with JavaScript disabled*: much of which is proprietary.**
This code provides many website features that are fairly essential,
and *do not work with JavaScript disabled*:
- Change repository names or descriptions; - Change repository names or descriptions;
- Delete repositories; - Delete repositories;
@ -43,40 +50,46 @@ that are fairly essential, and *do not work with JavaScript disabled*:
- And others. - And others.
That is---GitHub forces you to run proprietary software in order to use much That is---GitHub forces you to run proprietary software in order to use much
of their website. This is unethical. of their website.
This is a bit startling for a host that owes its very existence to the
success and development of free software.
#### Desire To Remain Non-Free #### Desire To Remain Non-Free
I contacted GitHub back in April 2014, pointing out these concerns and I contacted GitHub back in April 2014 pointing out these concerns and
asking if they would be able to either liberate their JavaScript, or make asking if they would be able to either liberate their JavaScript or make
GitHub's essential functionality work without JavaScript enabled. The first GitHub's essential functionality work without JavaScript enabled.
response I received was from one of their "JavaScript Developers": The first response I received was from one of their "JavaScript Developers":
> Hi Mike, > Hi Mike,
> >
> Thanks for getting in touch with us here. Some of our internal projects are > Thanks for getting in touch with us here. Some of our internal projects are
> specific to running GitHub, and as such will probably remain closed. We do > specific to running GitHub, and as such will probably remain closed. We do
> make an effort to open source projects that we create that we think would be > make an effort to open source projects that we create that we think would be
> beneficial to the community, some of which is JavaScript. > beneficial to the community, some of which is JavaScript.
> >
> You can see a list of some of the open source projects that power GitHub > You can see a list of some of the open source projects that power GitHub
> here: > here:
> >
> https://github.com/showcases/projects-that-power-github > https://github.com/showcases/projects-that-power-github
This response is unfortunately misguided: yes, it is good that GitHub This response is unfortunately misguided---yes,
produces free software, but it is a false assumption that their proprietary it is good that GitHub produces free software,
code would serve no benefit to the community: the very existence of but it is a false assumption that their proprietary code would serve no
their proprietary software benefit to the community:
[gives them unjust control over their users][unjust]. Relinquishing that the very existence of their proprietary software [gives them unjust
control is of benefit to the community. control over their users][unjust];
relinquishing that control is of benefit to the community.
I replied to the above message, clarifying my point. After receiving no I replied to the above message to clarify my point.
response, I forwarded the e-mail to GitHub's original founders: [Tom After receiving no response,
Preston-Werner][tom], [Chris Wanstrath][chris], and [PJ Hyett][pj]. The I forwarded the e-mail to GitHub's original founders:
response I received from Chris was blunt and discouraging: [Tom Preston-Werner][tom],
[Chris Wanstrath][chris],
and [PJ Hyett][pj].
The response I received from Chris was blunt and discouraging:
> Hey Mike, > Hey Mike,
> >
> We have no plans to release github.com's JavaScript as free software at > We have no plans to release github.com's JavaScript as free software at
> this time, nor do we have plans to remove the site's dependence on > this time, nor do we have plans to remove the site's dependence on
> JavaScript. Thanks for the interest. > JavaScript. Thanks for the interest.