Dear developers, politics don't belong in open source

Summary

In this video, the creator discusses their frustration with the increasing politicization of software, specifically through examples like Notepad++ and other open-source projects. They express a desire to simply use tools for their intended purpose without being bombarded by political statements or activism. The video also touches on the issue of developers incorporating their personal political views into software, which the creator feels detracts from the primary function of the tool. Ultimately, the creator calls for a return to software that focuses solely on usability, free from political influence.

Takeaways

• 😀 ProtonVPN is promoted as a solution for privacy, online security, and bypassing geo-restrictions while streaming or browsing.
• 😀 VPNs protect users from surveillance by third parties, including the National Security Agency, and help with privacy online.
• 😀 The 14 Eyes countries are an alliance of nations that monitor and share internet activity, making VPNs a valuable tool for privacy.
• 😀 The narrator expresses frustration about political messaging being embedded in software tools, like Notepad++, which should focus on functionality.
• 😀 Political statements, such as supporting Taiwan's independence or boycotting Beijing, are found in tools that are primarily for text editing and coding, which frustrates the user.
• 😀 The Lerna project, a JavaScript tool, is politicized by banning companies working with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
• 😀 The narrator argues that politicizing software, like Lerna, detracts from the focus on functionality and raises concerns about using political agendas in code tools.
• 😀 There is a strong opposition to software being used as a platform for political ideologies, as users simply want tools that work without political bias.
• 😀 The narrator believes that while software creators can have personal opinions, these should not influence the software itself or its user experience.
• 😀 Political extremism in open-source software and tech communities is harmful, as it alienates users who may disagree with the agendas being pushed.
• 😀 The video concludes with a plea for software creators to prioritize functionality and avoid embedding political stances in software that is meant to serve as a tool.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker is addressing in the video?

The speaker is addressing the issue of software being politicized, particularly when software developers integrate their political views into the software itself, which distracts from the intended purpose of the software.

What are the benefits of using a VPN like ProtonVPN mentioned in the video?

The speaker mentions that ProtonVPN provides protection against warrantless surveillance, allows users to access content unavailable in their region, and adds an extra layer of security by preventing accidental leaks of sensitive information like IP addresses.

How does ProtonVPN stand out from other VPN services according to the comparison chart?

ProtonVPN is the only VPN service in the comparison chart not owned by a large company and is not based in one of the '14 Eyes' countries, which are involved in global surveillance alliances.

What is the '14 Eyes' alliance, and why is it important in the context of the video?

The '14 Eyes' alliance refers to a group of countries that share intelligence and monitor internet activity. The speaker emphasizes that VPN services based in these countries might not provide the same level of privacy and security as ProtonVPN, which is not part of this alliance.

What political statements were made in the Notepad++ text editor, according to the video?

The speaker mentions that Notepad++ includes political statements such as 'Boycott Beijing,' 'Stand with Ukraine,' and 'Support Taiwan’s independence,' which the speaker finds intrusive when just trying to use a simple text editor.

What issue did the speaker find with the Lerna project?

The speaker criticizes the Lerna project for banning companies that support ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) from using the software. The maintainers took a political stance, prohibiting companies like Microsoft and Amazon from using Lerna, which the speaker feels is inappropriate for a software tool.

How does the speaker feel about political messages in software?

The speaker feels that political messages should not be part of software, as they distract from the main function of the software. They believe software should focus on its intended purpose without pushing any political agendas.

What was the reaction of the speaker to a GitHub project with political statements?

The speaker was frustrated by a GitHub project that included a political message condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine. The speaker argues that such statements in the documentation of a project are unnecessary and force users into political stances when all they want is to use the software.

Why does the speaker believe political extremism in software is harmful?

The speaker believes political extremism in software is harmful because it excludes people who do not align with those extreme views. It also complicates the user experience by forcing political beliefs onto users when they simply want to use a tool or service.

What is the speaker's main point regarding the role of politics in open-source software?

The speaker’s main point is that open-source software should focus on being functional and useful, rather than being used as a platform to promote political agendas. They believe that mixing politics with open-source software undermines the purpose of the software.