I Used to Hate Windows

But now I don’t.

Gandhi said, “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.” One of my favorite quotes, and certainly accurate in describing the software world’s actions against OSS (Open Source Software). But how to describe the other way around: OSS users feelings toward proprietary software makers? We need to rearrange that quote a little. “First you fight it, then you ridicule it, then you ignore it, then you win.”

There comes a day in every future OSS user’s life when they realize they’re ready to strike out away from home. Like a rebellious teenager, all the flaws of their heretofore omnipresent overlords become painfully clear. How did I put up with this shit for so long? they think. And they fight. And it’s hard. Many battles are lost, and many lose the war during this stage. But a few overcome, and come to consider themselves “linux users” or “BSD users.”

Then you ridicule. Like the teenager who managed to escape into his own apartment, everything seems rosy. Silly Billy, they think, still living at home like a loser. Bowing to the system. So oppressed! If only he knew about the freedom out here! And so he precedes to educate Billy. And everyone else who will listen. And many who don’t want to. “Come on, you fools, you have been a sheep for too long!”

Then, after a few years, you ignore. Because really, you have talked a few friends or family members into following your lead, and maybe it didn’t really work out for them. In the case of OSS, the last straw probably went something like, “Umm, where’s the shutdown button?” “Well, there isn’t one, you see giving files SUID … I mean, anyways all you have to do is pop open the terminal, password, and type shu…” “Give me Windows back. Now.” And really, after a few years, it gets old comparing Linux and Windows. It’s not easy to tell your friend why they can’t just download AIM and install it as usual, even if you think Linux does it better. It becomes, OK, I have my system, you have yours, but mine is still better.

And then you win. And I believe I just hit that yesterday, which I’m incredibly happy about. It happened when I was reading an article about Bill Gates retiring, and him talking about the history of Microsoft. And as I was reading the article, I realized I was smiling. No “this guy spread his sub-par filth to every corner of the world at the expense of better and more open systems”. No “this guy became the richest guy in the world by heartlessly crushing his competition”. Just smiling, and thinking, enjoy your retirement, Bill! And it surprised me a bit! How can this be? Am I growing soft?

No. I just don’t feel threatened by Microsoft anymore. OSS, which I still believe holds the moral and technical high-ground, is not going away. Microsoft can not buy us out. Microsoft can not backroom-deal us into oblivion. They have tried. They are failing. Microsoft admits that they feel threatened by OSS. But I can’t say the same about Microsoft anymore.

People have called Linux’s licence a “viral” licence because it has a nasty way of reproducing itself. A virus can mutate. A virus is an incredibly robust organism. But a virus doesn’t benifit from killing off its host. Or homogeneousness. OSS hasn’t saturated the market. That’s good. It is here for those who want it.

Microsoft and others will continue to fight, but we have already won. And I’m glad that Microsoft is here, too, and even benefiting from the many advancements pioneered in open source.

Enjoy your retirement, Bill!

~ by digdoug on June 25, 2008.