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October 09, 2024

Balkanization of Open Source Software

In reaction to the stunning amount of OSS projects having elements that are attempting to enforce this or that political leaning upon its members — there is an understandable desire to react in kind. And I’m hoping this trend won’t continue.

The genesis of this post is a sort of “well, we will protest on your behalf” response to my posit that I’m quite happy to use software freely given out from the labor of those who CAN’T STAND my beliefs, political opinions, etc. How terrible of them! And it is terrible, no doubt. But my response is to just continue using the software…because I like and benefit from the software. And frankly, I choose to see it as extra joy that someone who REALLY wouldn’t like me benefitting from their hard work, is nonetheless, working for free for my benefit.

But shouldn’t we form purity lists to support the software development from those with our own political or social bent? Sure - if you want to. But for me? I’m going to let the software itself determine whether I use it or not. Maybe someone I disagree with - happens to write a lot better code than the person sitting next to my in the church pew on Sunday.

Now I realize that OSS is already balkanized - so what’s wrong with doubling the balkanization for the good cause of telling someone else their beliefs are wrong-er than my own? Take the mess we have, and double it with forks so that “folks who like pokemon” are all cooperating and the “folks who like black and white television” are cooperating. Right?!

No. I mean, again, “do your thing” — but for me — that’s not how I choose to respond. I’m not going to act like those who hate me by cutting my own nose off to spite my face in protest and counter virtue signaling. I think the loser will be quality software - and that’s bad for Pokemon and Leave It To Beaver enthusiasts.

Those of you with “correct-think” are not protesting on my behalf just because we might vote for the same people. You aren’t accomplishing anything in spite of me “lack of moral courage” to boycott those who boycott me. You are doing you, and that’s ok.

As for me - I’m choosing tolerance of the intolerant. Free speech is easy when you like what someone is saying. The virtue in Free Speech is only in play when you allow those you disagree with to have their say. Likewise, it’s easy to be tolerant of those who at least tolerate you. But the challenge is to live with tolerance in the face of those who don’t give two bits about tolerating you.

This from the perspective of the software user. I might well have to move on from a project that would “purge me” for “wrong-think”. But as for which software I will use, it will be whatever is the quality software no matter who made it. “But that’s why my fork does, it just gets us back to software without politics”. It’s a wonderful pov, it matches my own. But - it doesn’t usurp the “if it’s good software, I’ll use it without regard to who made it”.

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Microslop to the rescue!!

Lunduke Lifetime Discount Ends in 1 Day; Zelda, Larry, SQ, & Keen Walls Available

TL;DR: Lifetime Subscription discount ends in one day. There are currently 4 “Lifetime Walls” with space available for more names (the Oregon Trail Wall is now full).

We’ve been running a massive discount on Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscriptions for the entire months of June and July. And it has been an absolute blast. There are now 21 (twenty-one!) retro computer walls overflowing with your names.

Pure insanity. Huge thank you to everyone who has supported The Lunduke Journal.

But the discounted price only runs through July 31st… and that moment is just about here.

When the calendar ticks over into August (just a hair over 24 hours from now), the Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription price goes back to normal.

  • If the calendar still says it’s July, the Lifetime price is still discounted to $125.

  • If the calendar says August… the price returns to $300.

There are, as of this exact moment, 4 retro game themed “Lifetime Walls” which still have some space for more names (check Lunduke.com for the full list):

  1. Legend of Zelda

  2. Commander Keen 4

  3. Space Quest 4

  4. Leisure Suit Larry

Grab a discounted Lifetime Subscription (scroll down for the details), then email Lunduke (bryan at lunduke.com) with which Wall you’d like to appear on.

 

First come, first served. Once a Wall is full, it’s full. So if there’s a specific Wall you’d like to be on, don’t dilly dally.

How to Grab a Discounted Lifetime Subscription:

There are 3 different ways to pick up a Lunduke Journal Lifetime sub. All of them work great. Choose whichever works best for you!

Remember: These discounted prices go back up to normal ($300) on August 1st.

Get a Lifetime Subscription via Locals:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Locals.com/support.

  2. Select “Give Once“.

  3. Enter “125“ into the amount field.

  4. After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

Get a Lifetime Subscription via Substack:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Substack.com/subscribe.

  2. Select the “Lifetime Subscription” option.

  3. After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

If you would also like full, Lifetime access to Lunduke.Locals.com (which is included):

  1. Make a free account on Lunduke.Locals.com.

  2. Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the email address you use on both Substack and Locals (can be different email addresses).

  3. Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status on Locals.

Get a Lifetime Subscription with Bitcoin:

Bonus: Save an extra $10 with the Bitcoin option, as Bitcoin processing has fewer fees associated with it.

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  • Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the following information: What time you made the transaction, how much was sent (in Bitcoin), and the email address you use (or plan to use) on Locals.com or Substack.com.

-Lunduke

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Oregon Trail, Keen, & Leisure Suit Larry Lifetime Walls

Holy frijoles! There are now 20 (twenty!) Lifetime Subscriber Walls, filled with the names of roughly one bazillion Lunduke Journal supporters.

Just amazing.

Two super quick updates:

  1. The “Desqview/X”, “NeXTSetp”, & “TRS-80 Model 100” Walls are now full! (Check them out on Lunduke.com and at the end of new shows.)

  2. There are 3 new Walls available to put your John Hancock on… and, just for kicks, these ones aren’t from Classic Operating Systems… they’re Classic Games:

    1. Oregon Trail

    2. Commander Keen 4

    3. Leisure Suit Larry

 

I don’t expect space on these Walls to last long. First come first served.

A huge thank you to all of The Lunduke Journal subscribers. Your support is deeply appreciated. You make this possible.

-Lunduke

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TRS-80 Model 100 joins The Lunduke Journal Lifetime Wall party!

Buckle up, Buttercup. Because The Lunduke Journal is about to blow your mind.

  1. The “BeOS” Wall Lifetime Subscriber Wall is now full (see all of them on Lunduke.com)!

  2. We’ve added a new “TRS-80 Model 100” Wall (because we can)! That’s the 19th Lifetime Subscriber Wall! 19!

  3. The discounted Lifetime Lunduke Journal Subscriptions are still available through to the end of this month (July).

Which means there are, as of this exact moment, 4 Walls with space available (see Lunduke.com for the full list of Walls). But these fill up wicked fast.

  1. Emacs (only a few spots left)

  2. Desqview/X (a little less than 2/3rd’s full)

  3. NeXTStep (still plenty of space)

  4. TRS-80 Model 100 (just launched)

 

Nice, right?

Worth noting: The “TRS-80 Model 100” has very limited screen resolution (240 x 64), which means only a small number of names can fit on that wall. If you want on it, I’d let me know right away.

Grab a discounted Lifetime Subscription (if you don’t already have one), then let me know (email “bryan at lunduke.com”) which Wall you’d like to see your name on.

Huge high five to everyone who has already added their name to a Wall. At the current rate, we’ll have over 20 retro computer themed walls, filled with all of your names, by the end of the month.

And, doggone it, that’s amazing.

-Lunduke

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