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Bitwarden is no longer free software

(github.com)
238 points ferbivore | 1 comments | 20 Oct 24 08:51 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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robshep ◴[20 Oct 24 12:35 UTC] No.41894948[source]▶
So much whining here.

You have absolute freedom in truly open source software at the point of any particular release.

So, you have the freedom to fork or self-build/host at discrete time points.

Assuming software made by a company to remain and persist truly open source (compatible)is idiotic.

Praise the freedoms you have had for this time.

The constant criticisms will likely mean that new companies or new products will never opt for open source in the future . And that is a poorer outcome for the world.

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mhx1138 ◴[20 Oct 24 13:00 UTC] No.41895088[source]▶
Companies should not opt for and advertise with open source, if they don’t stand behind open source principles. Classic bait and switch. That’s what upsets users. They chose Bitwarden over e.g. LastPass, because they believed in FOSS. Companies exploit that and it’s sad.
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1. robshep ◴[20 Oct 24 21:14 UTC] No.41898530[source]▶
The "bait and switch" argument is based on the assumption that it was their strategy from day one? I think the company has evolved around the orignal code and they'd like it to be more profitable / sustainable.

Assuming they stick with openly auditable code (albeit not FOSS) then it's still than purely commercial options.

Nevertheless, my argument is that it should be cherished that we've had (guessing) best part of a decade of opensource BitWarden that cannot be taken away from us. The FOSS bit is purely temporal ... $now, the exact commit/release/tag/head when an FOSS license is in play, it remains FOSS - it's just the next commit isn't FOSS ... but there's no binding license that says it is/should/has-to remain for future commits.

Nobody's rights are being taken away here.

"Beleiving in FOSS" just needs to be more short-term focussed or prepare for continual dissappointment.