I’ll be looking into Lemmy alternatives too.

h, I see what you mean now. The thing is, the massive numbers of users we collectively provide to Microsoft (even non-paying) is a huge benefit to them. They wouldn’t offer free stuff otherwise. It gives them all kinds of leverage in negotiations. I’ve elaborated a bit more on it in another reply in case you’re interested.

GitLab mirrored on GitHub is totally fine with me, thanks so much for the thoughtful comment! I’ll add Icecast to the list of things to look into. I’ve encountered it with internet radio.

And I appreciate the respectful response. “Support” means “contributes to” when I use it. My car does contribute to climate change. The thing is, GitHub is a choice. For some people, driving isn’t a choice due to lack of public transport and distance to work. However if I use my car when there is plentiful public services (but I just like to hear my music at full volume in my car), then that is a choice.

So if I’m driving when I have better options, then my actions do support climate change, and I do so knowingly.

It’s called “social proof”. The way bullies get their way is because they can gesture broadly at their following and say, “see? We’re popular. Better that you conform than try to resist us”. That gives them lock-in and ecosystem growth. It also makes it harder for competitors when they abuse their position to offer free services that an ethical but smaller provider can’t. It’s also a gateway to Azure, another of their products (which make the Israeli killing fields in Palestine even more efficient). It allows them to shift a percentage of free users to paid plans.

So it’s lots really. And supporting Microsoft today is very similar to supporting Volkswagen during Nazi Germany’s rule.

I don’t want to repeat this comment too much, but perfect is the enemy of the good. I’ll do what I reasonably can.

Thanks for the response. I also feel that open source projects contribute to a better world, but I think we sometimes have a puritanical view of ourselves. We do not make a better world by supporting Microsoft while they enable a genocide. We do the opposite. Using even their free stuff is support. If genocide isn’t a red line for them, then they have no red lines, and I become very uninterested in their games

I also agree that it’s important to be effective. Richard Stallman et al can do what they do, but I’m not one of those people. Just a consumer. It’s important that we exercise the few rights we have (while we still have them).

I’ve been an open source advocate for years. Helped many people migrate to Linux in my free time, submitted as many well formed bug reports as I could and remained available for follow up requests and further debugging.

The thing is: none of this matters if we’re willing to sit on our hands while people die. Our repositories are not so precious. We shouldn’t let our love of software replace our love of humanity.

Isn’t that GitHub too?

To answer your question: even using their free stuff supports Microsoft. As long as they facilitate militarised genocide, I’m out.

“Be the change you want to see in the world”.

Even using their free stuff is supporting Microsoft. As long as they provide sophisticated facilities for genocide, I’m out.

As a wiser person than me once said “be the change you want to see in the world”.

Libraries are so underrated - always a good suggestion. I have about 300 albums that I like so I’d probably stick with my Snowsky Echo Mini for those. But I should check out the local libraries. (I have an old laptop with a CD player).

I don’t know if you read the articles I linked or not, but there is a stark lack of empathy in replies like this: full of self interest, void of humanity.

Devs are free to choose other platforms. They don’t face death or famine for doing so. Oppressed people cannot choose their oppressors. If genocide isn’t a red line for you then you have no red lines.

More Europeans than ever can watch the live-streamed genocide that we’ve been arming and encouraging!

Keeping our morals behind closed doors is what’s wrong with the world.

That’s a good question. I’ve been thinking about where a middle ground might be. I think if a project does both it’s coding and CI on another platform (fully committed) then I can live with that. They can a copy of the code to GitHub for the engagement and audience or whatever.

But if the project is determined to keep with GitHub specific features (like actions) then that’s a clear signal of support to GitHub, IMO. I couldn’t support that. So in short, if GitHub is their home base then I intend to boycott, but I don’t mind them mirroring to GitHub from something like Codeberg.

Ah, I appreciate the comment so much! I also don’t use Spotify for the same reason as you. These exploitation economies are a race to the bottom. Thank you, and I wish you success platforming your music ethically.

I’ll have to deal with Lemmy (and Mastodon) too, but one thing at a time. My plan is to be intentional but to pace myself.

Those are great finds. I use Feishin as a subsonic client and absolutely love it. Unfortunately the Codeberg repo appears to be out of date, while their GitHub one is current. So I think they’ve migrated to GitHub. https://github.com/jeffvli/feishin

LMS appears to be inactive for over a year on Codeberg too, while their GitHub is active https://github.com/epoupon/lms

It’s a pity seeing projects move that way, especially when they clearly put in the effort and had good intentions from the beginning. I might contact those developers, though, and see if they might reconsider. Thanks for the helpful response!

Great idea(s)! Navidrome is my favourite and I will really miss it (I’m listening with it now). My understanding is that the project will not be moving platform. A GitHub ticket sounds like a good idea, but I’m unsure about personally pressing the issue with them again, in case it feels like I’m trying to pressure them. Maybe I’m overthinking it?

As for mirroring, I did come across a project or two that are on both Codeberg and GitHub. Given what I’m aiming for impact (as much as one person can have) I’m not sure what to do in that case. I feel that if the project is tied to GitHub devops, then any mirroring is more of a token offering with little impact. But if the project CDI was on Codeberg / GitLab etc and mirrored on GitHub I’d probably be more okay with it. At least, that’s my thinking at the time of writing.

PS: I use GitLab too now. I host some websites with GitLab Pages. I found the documentation a bit lacking in some areas, which took up more time. But I’m happier with the move.

Edit: I’m not up-to-date on US politics, but it looks like GitLab is aligned with the current authoritarian administration https://archive.is/okSlz

I have. The dev of the software I’m currently using said that they prioritise personal preferences and software tools above anything else. That’s not good enough for me.

I’ve worked in tech and that individualistic attitude is pretty prevalent. I’ve contact devs not on GitHub to check that they have no intention of moving there. I’m waiting to hear back.

I respect bigger ambitions, but they can lead to defeatism and paralysis. The point is to do what is possible, rather than let perfect be the enemy of the good. I see it as a minor effort. At least, easier than being forced to beg for food, hoping I won’t be executed when I turn my back.