diff --git a/docs/about/githubbub.md b/docs/about/githubbub.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b0a1c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/about/githubbub.md @@ -0,0 +1,107 @@ +### GitHubbub! GitHub Does Not Value Software Freedom. + +
![GitHub](/images/github-mark-large.png "GitHubbub!")
+ +If you hit this page expecting to have been taken to my GitHub profile, then +this is probably not what you were looking for. But let me tell you why +you're here. + +Before providing a link to something hosted on a service, it is wise to +consider whether doing so is a good idea---whether the service or website +is antithetical to the message you are trying to send to your +readers/visitors, or whether it deserves clarification. There's a little +bit of both here. + + +#### Non-Free JavaScript +[Free software][freesw] guarantees your freedom to study, modify, and share +the software that you use. We value these freedoms on the desktop, so why +should we compromise when websites serve proprietary JavaScript +[just because it creates the illusion of remote execution][whyfreejs]? When +you visit a website that serves JavaScript to the client, your web browser +is automatically [downloading and executing (often without your permission) +untrusted software][jstrap]. If that JavaScript is not +[freely licensed][ilibrejs], then the software running in your web browser +is proprietary. + +**When you visit `github.com`, you download over 200kB of obfuscated code, +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; +- Delete repositories; +- Add an SSH key to your account; +- Fork repositories; +- Create pull requests; +- Enable and disable project features; +- Use the wiki and issue trackers; +- View graphs of statistics; +- And others. + +That is---GitHub forces you to run proprietary software in order to use much +of their website. This is unethical. + +#### Desire To Remain Non-Free +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 +GitHub's essential functionality work without JavaScript enabled. The first +response I received was from one of their "JavaScript Developers": + +> Hi Mike, +> +> 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 +> make an effort to open source projects that we create that we think would be +> beneficial to the community, some of which is JavaScript. +> +> You can see a list of some of the open source projects that power GitHub +> here: +> +> https://github.com/showcases/projects-that-power-github + +This response is unfortunately misguided: yes, it is good that GitHub +produces free software, but it is a false assumption that their proprietary +code would serve no benefit to the community: the very existence of +their proprietary software +[gives them unjust 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 +response, I forwarded the e-mail to GitHub's original founders: [Tom +Preston-Werner][tom], [Chris Wanstrath][chris], and [PJ Hyett][pj]. The +response I received from Chris was blunt and discouraging: + +> Hey Mike, +> +> 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 +> JavaScript. Thanks for the interest. + +The original correspondence is provided here: + +1. [Original request][gh-request] to `support@github.com`, Tom, Chris, and + PJ. +2. [Reply to my original request][gh-request-reply] from one of the developers. +3. [My reply to the developer][gh-request2] providing more information and + asking for a commitment. +4. [Forward of my reply][gh-request3] to Tom, Chris, and PJ, after having + received no response from the developer. +5. [Response from Chris Wanstrath][gh-request3-reply] stating that GitHub + has "no plans" to liberate its JavaScript or "remove the site's + dependence on JavaScript". + + +[freesw]: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html +[whyfreejs]: https://www.gnu.org/software/easejs/whyfreejs.html +[jstrap]: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html +[librejs]: https://www.gnu.org/software/librejs/free-your-javascript.html +[unjust]: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html +[tom]: https://github.com/mojombo +[chris]: https://github.com/defunkt +[pj]: https://github.com/pjhyett + +[gh-request]: /docs/gh/email-request +[gh-request-reply]: /docs/gh/email-request-reply +[gh-request2]: /docs/gh/email-request2 +[gh-request3]: /docs/gh/email-request3 +[gh-request3-reply]: /docs/gh/email-request3-reply diff --git a/images/github-42.png b/images/github-42.png index d9c1099..0b01d9b 100644 Binary files a/images/github-42.png and b/images/github-42.png differ diff --git a/images/github-mark-large.png b/images/github-mark-large.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..13d419f Binary files /dev/null and b/images/github-mark-large.png differ diff --git a/tpl/.config b/tpl/.config index 5771e71..6252676 100644 --- a/tpl/.config +++ b/tpl/.config @@ -127,10 +127,10 @@ html_index_footer=$(cat < - + See me on GitHub