When you join the #FSF as an associate member, you support important and exciting projects like #LibrePhone: https://u.fsf.org/commit #FreeSoftware #Commit2Freedom #GNU

Our associate members come from around the world and join for many reasons. Commit to freedom and join us today, and help us reach our goal of 175 new members by July 10: https://u.fsf.org/commit2freedom #Commit2Freedom #FSF #GNU #FreeSoftware

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Green banner above reads 'why did you become a FSF associate member?' and in white text below it reads 'The FSF maintains the basic freedoms that every individual deserves. I have the ability to support that work so I will by Albert from Göteborg, Sweden'

A #ThankGNU! to Adam Oberbeck and Edward Flick for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/4ao

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Image that says 'Thank GNU' with a GNU head by Vijay Kumar Bagavath Singh

From problem-solving to tenacity to a deep curiosity, people with #FreeSoftware experience make excellent employees and colleagues! Advertise your job opening on our #job page: https://u.fsf.org/46v #FSF

The #GNUPress Shop has both educational and fun gifts for you or a loved one: https://u.fsf.org/4bd #FSF #FreeSoftware #GNU

Improvements are coming to #LibreOffice's tabbed user interface, in our next major update, due in August! Big thanks to our Design community for working on them. (Of course, the menu+toolbar interface option isn't going away 😉) #foss #opensource #freesoftware

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Screenshot of tabbed user interface, with colours

Associate members get a 20% discount on everything in the GNU Press Shop! Don't let these savings on mission-supporting merch go to waste: https://u.fsf.org/4bd #FSF #GNUPress #GNU #FreeSoftware

Browser-Based Euro Office Clone

This is an experimental, local-first project designed to demonstrate client-side managed functionality without requiring any setup. By leveraging the FileSystem API, it offers a unique approach to storing files directly on your device from your browser.

Current Features:
- PWA (Progressive Web App)
- Local-first storage
- Word processor
- Spreadsheet tool
- PDF capability

Coming Soon:

- Support for more file types
- Storage synchronization
- Collaborative editing
- Encryption at rest
- P2P file-transfer

Long-Term Goals (Clones of):
- NextCloud
- WhatsApp
- Instagram
- WeTransfer

Note: This project is experimental, far from finished, and presented strictly for testing, feedback, and demo purposes (USE RESPONSIBLY!).

Check out the demo version and let me know your thoughts!

Demo: https://enkrypted.chat/?tab=file

#WebDev #JavaScript #PWA #LocalFirst #OfficeSuite #FileSystemAPI #Tech #Programming #SoftwareEngineering #WebApps #Privacy #SelfHosted #NextCloud #P2P #WebDevelopment #IndieDev #Coding #DevCommunity #TechNews #AppDevelopment #FreeSoftware #BrowserApp

Each #FSF associate membership supports our many #FreeSoftware campaigns, initiatives like #LibreLocal, and the #GNU Project, to name a few: https://u.fsf.org/commit #Commit2Freedom

Fun summer (or winter!) plans go great with #FreeSoftware merch: https://u.fsf.org/4bd #GNUPress #FSF #GNU

Associate members get a 20% discount on everything in the GNU Press Shop! Don't let these savings on mission-supporting merch go to waste: https://u.fsf.org/4bd #FSF #GNUPress #GNU #FreeSoftware

Haack's Networking

A small informal review of the Conservancy's "Recommendations when Using AI"

📚️ sfconservancy.org/llm-gen-ai/llm-backed-generative-ai-recommendations.html

✍️ I think this is a very reasonable approach to LLM-gen-AI (hereafter AI) and floss space. Despite the fear mongering, AI is simply a tool. As with any statistical software, the human has to be the final arbiter of the content - not the tool itself. The free form input and output increases the concern over confirmation bias but it does not negate the value of the tool if used properly.

💡The main goal - imho - and one which we see this piece calling for in #12 ... is the rapid and immediate forking/development of floss-only AI tooling. Some do already exist, but they are crude in comparison. As with any software, the four software freedoms are paramount for ensuring the safety, equity, and accessibility of the tooling. This is essential and I've already started investing so as to be able to self-host my own generative AI.

🔨 In short, if these two criteria are met - namely, the human is the final arbiter of the content and the underlying models/tooling are floss, then I think arguments against AI-usage crumble. Sure, concerns over reliance on proprietary AI, governmental and/or big money influence, those all matter ... and floss and the four freedoms protect us from these valid concerns. AI is just the latest software - it's not special.

⚡️ This set of recommendations is game-changing. I think the next task for the Conservancy to consider is the legal / copyright side of the matter. A member of our small group brought this up and I share that same concern. As more litigation and legal precedent emerges, it will be interesting to see how this guidance evolves. In particular, I am referring to the US-side of legality re: https://www.copyright.gov/ai/ - I think the next wisest task for the Conservancy to take on is licensing + AI.

Final Grade: A+

This piece reaffirms the Conservancy firmly as a leader in FLOSS spaces. Massive thanks.

@jimsalter @bkuhn @conservancy

#self-hosted #freesoftware #opensource #floss #linux #gnulinux

Can't stop thinking inspired you are by a #Freesoftware project's work in the last year? Nominate it for a Free Software Award by July 12: https://u.fsf.org/4bc #FSF #GNU

There's not a lot that $12 buys in many countries, but it does pay for a #FSF associate membership for one month! https://my.fsf.org/join #GNU #Commit2Freedom #FreeSoftware

Hello Fediverse!

This is the very first post on this friendly new instance for everyone who likes, uses, and enjoys talking about free and open source software, especially Linux, BSD, and illumos operating systems.

#fediblue #darkblueproject #mastodon #opensource #freesoftware #fediverse

Every item in the #GNUPress Shop helps fund the FSF's mission to protect the four freedoms, all while showing those around you that you care about #UserFreedom: https://u.fsf.org/4bd #FSF #FreeSoftware #GNU

There's not a lot that $12 buys in many countries, but it does pay for a #FSF associate membership for one month! https://my.fsf.org/join #GNU #Commit2Freedom #FreeSoftware

A #ThankGNU! to Howard Pan, Reynaldo Cordero, and Ron Hume for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/4ao

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Image that says 'Thank GNU' with a GNU head by Vijay Kumar Bagavath Singh

New to the #FreeSoftware movement and not sure where to start? Check out some of our videos on Framatube: u.fsf.org/3it #FSF #education

Map your footprint.
Score the leak.
Get a plan.

Inventory the services that hold your data. Answer a few questions about how you use each. Get a privacy grade with prioritized fixes.

https://privacyscore.me

#opensource #privacy #freesoftware #technology #apps #lifestyle #economy

A #ThankGNU! to Arthur Gleckler and David Klann for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/4ao

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Image that says 'Thank GNU' with a GNU head by Vijay Kumar Bagavath Singh

@bkuhn @conservancy @dalias

> While it was surely unintentional, your reply is quite similar to the cruelty of traditional #FreeSoftware rhetoric — wherein we shunned people for using #Apple & #Microsoft. Such users deserve sympathy and help toward more software freedom.
>
> Same goes for #LLM-backed generative #AI users.

Sorry, I usually really value your opinions on stuff, as you tend to run contrary to the so-pragmatic-they'd-pimp-their-own-mothers attitude that is far too prevalent in (F)OSS, but hard disagree.

There's a big difference between knocking someone for using a MacBook and knocking someone for using an LLM.

Using a MacBook harms the user in ways that are somewhat debatable. Its harm outside of the user is very negligible and even more debatable.

Using LLMs harms us all. I don't doubt that there are valid and ethical applications for LLMs in many sectors, but you don't build a giant baby shredder on top of an indigenous burial ground and then suddenly pivot to saying, "But wait, it can process potatoes, too!"

If we're not talking about the theft of human creativity, the theft of potable water, the theft of human labor and wages, the promotion of über-fascist plutocrats, and all of the other horrendous harms associated with LLMs, then we're not talking about LLMs. We're engaging in some kind of fantasy roleplay.

Respectfully,

—Some dingbat named Dane, or something, who loves humanity and freedom.

In a policy statement¹, @conservancy said:
> “#FOSS projects should not shun contributors who choose to use LLM-gen-AI systems.”

@dalias' reply:
>> “LOL WTF NOPE. 🤡”

While it was surely unintentional, your reply is quite similar to the cruelty of traditional #FreeSoftware rhetoric — wherein we shunned people for *using* #Apple & #Microsoft. Such users deserve sympathy and help toward more software freedom.

Same goes for #LLM-backed generative #AI users.

¹ https://sfconservancy.org/llm-gen-ai/llm-backed-generative-ai-recommendations.html

#OpenSource

Calling all #Bookworms: the #GNUPress Shop has lots of great #books on #FreeSoftware, including how to use it! https://u.fsf.org/4bd #FSF #GNU

Coming up in #LibreOffice 26.8, our next major release (due in August): the border toolbar button in Calc is now a split button that remembers and reapplies the most recently used border style. Thanks to Andreas Heinisch for implementing this feature! #foss #openSource #freesoftware

Every donation to the #FSF, no matter the size, funds essential #FreeSoftware work: https://u.fsf.org/commit #Commit2Freedom #GNU

Most people can't answer a simple question: who holds my data, what are they allowed to do with it, and how do I reduce that?

The information is scattered across dozens of accounts and buried in privacy policies almost no one reads.

This free open source tool turns that fog into a ranked list of concrete actions and alternatives.

PERSONAL PRIVACY SCORE
https://privacyscore.me

#privacy #opensource #freesoftware

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Personal Privacy Score website preview.

Just because #LibreLocal month is over doesn't mean you have to wait until 2027 to meet up with #FreeSoftware activists in your area. Organize a meetup today! https://u.fsf.org/45l

When you're building software aimed at a niche related to hype, the only thing you can do is hook people onto it. I mean, you're targeting the kind people who have an attention span of a fruit fly. Unless they're literally addicted to your software, they're going to forget it as soon as they notice the next shiny thing.

#AI #LLM #NoAI #NoLLM #FreeSoftware #OpenSource

Big new documentation update for #LibreOffice! Thanks to the volunteers who made it happen: https://blog.documentfoundation.org/blog/2026/06/17/the-getting-started-guide-26-2-has-just-arrived/ #foss #opensource #freesoftware

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Getting Started guide cover

Show a member of the free software community or a project that you've noticed their important work by nominating them for a #FreeSoftware Award: https://u.fsf.org/4bc #FSF #GNU

A #ThankGNU! to the Sheila, Dave and Sherry Gold Foundation and Tom Benjamin Radtke for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/4ao

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Image that says 'Thank GNU' with a GNU head by Vijay Kumar Bagavath Singh

If you don't want unknown entities spying on your emails, setting up email encryption is a great way to protect your #privacy and use your #UserFredom: u.fsf.org/1bq #surveillance #FSF #FreeSoftware #GNU

Associate members get a 20% discount on everything in the GNU Press Shop! Don't let these savings on mission-supporting merch go to waste: https://u.fsf.org/4bd #FSF #GNUPress #GNU #FreeSoftware

Plasma 6.7 is out and landing soon on your distro of choice!

You can look forward to easier menu customization, better control over your mics, and, as for virtual desktops... Well, well, well! You get keyboard navigation and the much anticipated feature of having separate virtual desktops on different monitors.

Find out about all the new stuff packed into Plasma 6.7 here:

https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.7.0/

#Plasma6 #desktop #FreeSoftware #OpenSource

Apps for encryption, comms, Usenet, remailers ...

Ch1ffr3punk: https://github.com/Ch1ffr3punk

The owner is a denizen of the OG #Usenet scene.

#cypherpunk #cryptography #crypto #encryption #privacy #github #freesoftware

@cypherpunk@soc.octade.net @cryptography@soc.octade.net @usenet@soc.octade.net

The #GNUPress Shop is open now through July 19. Get yourself or someone you care about a free software gift today: https://u.fsf.org/4bd #FSF #FreeSoftware

If you've been inspired by someone's hard work in the #FreeSoftware community, nominate them for a Free Software Award by July 12: https://u.fsf.org/4bc #FSF #GNU

A #ThankGNU! to Norm Gunn, Raffael Stocker, and Ryo Nakamura for helping the FSF to promote #FreeSoftware. To see a longer list of those who have helped us financially in our advocacy for #SoftwareFreedom and awareness, visit: https://u.fsf.org/4ao

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Image that says 'Thank GNU' with a GNU head by Vijay Kumar Bagavath Singh