Moving to full FOSS, need advice
Hello All,
So as my requirements in computing at home dwindle I thought it maybe finally time to go full open source, instead of the tablet route, as I have privacy concerns with things like iPads and Android tablets.
I understand this is a trisquel forum and I expect a bit of bias, but generally I find its the most approachable forum regarding free open source software so I thought here maybe a good idea to start.
So my first question is regarding the system its self, I have been using Debian for a while, but I never thought it was fully open source, so what would you recommend regarding systems, trisquel or parabola, I used to use arch a few years ago and it was a good experience, I like the rolling aspect but I would imagine Trisquel would be more stable.
Additionally when it Trisquel 8 due for release, may it just be worth it to install trisquel 7 and maybe update the kernel to 4.9/10 libre?
Next is regarding GRSecurity, I use it in my current kernel, how does the libre kernel work with this? is it stable, is the system fully open source if you install grsecurity?
I have also used iTunes a lot on other devices, if possible I would like to take my films with me, I was thinking of using some virtualisation software (Thinking gnome boxes) and only connecting Windows to the internet when I need it, will likely use Windows 7 for this.
Additionally music is another thing, I use spotify on my phone, I hear there is an open source system for Spotify? how is this?
What is your advice towards moving to full libre?
Thanks all!
Hello lodonnell921; welcome to the forum!
Debian itself should contain only free/libre software by default; as far as I know, it only makes it simple to add non-free software. If you're careful, there shouldn't be a problem (of this kind, anyways) with it. The release date for Trisquel 8 is unknown, but it's being worked on.
I myself use Parabola and I'm happy with it. Parabola has a 100% free/libre kernel with the grsecurity patches in repositories. I'm using it as my main kernel and it works very well. I'm not sure what the situation is like at Trisquel.
I believe that moving away from proprietary software and even proprietary and/or centralized services is a great thing to do, so I strongly recommend doing so. One doesn't need to free their digital life completely overnight, but it's something that we should certainly always strive for; freedom is very important, after all. I guess that would be my advice. :)
By the way, I've noticed that you use the term “open source.” While it basically refers to the same software, the term “open source” comes from a different movement and doesn't evoke/convey the idea of freedom that we mustn't forget. Calling it “free” or “libre” software is generally preferred. See https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html
Open source is not a movement. It's a development methodology.
https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html
Hi and welcome lodonnell921
grsecurity is a set of patches under GPL V2, a way to test how this behaves with a Linux-Libre Kernel is with
https://heads.dyne.org/about.html ;-)
You can easily use Trisquel with a recent Linux-libre kernel thanks to jxself's great work: https://jxself.org/linux-libre/
iTunes and Spotify mean proprietary software, DRM, snooping, censorship, etc.
About Apple (including iTunes): https://stallman.org/apple.html
About Spotify: https://stallman.org/spotify.html
Hi All
First thanks for the advice given so far, the open source thing in my head always links to libre personally, to be fully open, but I do understand what you are all saying.
Additionally I am also looking into privacy first services, I hear Spideroak is a rather good service that makes their software encrypt before it leaves the device.
I am in a bit of a limbo with the distro picking, I generally always have been with Linux, I think I will test out in VMs both Parabola and Trisquel, but while I know my way around a linux system, I am getting lazy and of course life has ways of taking your tinkering time away from you, Tirifto have you had any major issues with Parabola? or has it been rather smooth sailing?
Also thanks Magic Banana about the information about Spotify, while I understood that it was likely spying I wasn't aware of that level.
Again thanks for the information.
The system is called GNU/Linux: https://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html
Parabola GNU/Linux basically is Arch without the proprietary software. Since you wrote that you had a good experience with Arch, you should be at home. Trisquel is based on Ubuntu: fixed instead of rolling release, APT instead of pacman, graphical administration utilities, a customized (and nice!) default desktop environment, etc.
I do have to admit its a decent looking distro is trisquel, even if I do prefer MATE (I believe this is coming in the next release?)
I think I might try install both of them and use what ever I need that day I think, best of both worlds
I hope Trisquel will look just the same more or less even after the MATE transition.
It looks like the multiple keyboard layout bug has been ironed out in the next release. ;-)
I didn't have many problems with Parabola. I think all problems I ever had in Parabola (or Arch – the parent distro – back when I used it) were caused by myself being careless (not checking the news before updating, forcing updates, or ignoring bugs). Those kind of mistakes usually aren't hard to fix, though, thanks to the great documentation (mostly coming from the Arch Wiki).
If you want a stable system that's simpler to maintain, with lesser chance of your system breaking overnight, I guess Trisquel would be a better choice. If you're prepared to deal with some problems, should they come up, I suppose either one will be nice.
If you prefer tablets, there are also tablets that can run Replicant, which is a fully free derivative of Android.
http://www.replicant.us/supported-devices.php
Unfortunately, there are still some apparent freedom issues with the hardware.
And Techno ethical does not seem to sell them anymore, but you could contact them and ask.
I am a translator!
Welcome OP! You wrote 'open sores' 4 times. I hear when someone writes 3 (or more) times 'open sores' within a same post Stallman suddenly appears in his room and spanks him with his halo, which is actually an old hard drive. Can you confirm this? I never tried and I'm curios.
Welcome, I'm just joking :)
No Stallman never appeared, to many closed source devices in this house, like garlic to a vampire, I do believe he is stood at the top of my street though!