User:Panos Alevropoulos/test/Antifeatures
This page documents my proposed antifeatures for the FSD. In my opinion, antifeatures should only be related to software freedom.
Resources
- https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Free_Software_Directory:Requirements
- https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Free_Software_Directory:Antifeatures
- https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Free_Software_Directory_talk:Antifeatures
- https://f-droid.org/en/docs/Anti-Features/
- https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Free_Software_Directory:Free_software_evaluation#Software_evaluation
- https://www.fsf.org/bulletin/2007/fall/antifeatures/
My suggested Antifeatures
These are antifeatures that are related to software freedom, but do not fall into FSD's inclusion requirements:
- Nonfree version exists (currently called Bait and surrender, but I'm not sure what that means - my suggestion needs a better name) - warn users that the developers use the free version to promote a proprietary version (e.g. GitLab).
- Nonfree assets (such as images, videos, etc.) - FSD requires assets to be free as long as they are essential. this is an antifeature only if trivial nonfree assets are included.
- Nonfree JavaScript - important project page(s) require(s) nonfree JavaScript to function (e.g. forum requires Google Captcha or some other nonfree code).
- Nonfree software required for development discussion - project uses proprietary app for communication (e.g. Telegram, Discord, etc.).
- Nonfree addons - promotes other nonfree apps or plugins to be combined with the program (the program itself is free).
- Unethical repository - project uses unacceptable repository (e.g. GitHub) - if this antifeature is used, it will be abundant, because most projects use GitHub. This might be good, because it can urge developers to use better repos.
- DRM - the GPL permits DRM, so this is definitely an antifeature. should include a link to defectivebydesign.org
Antifeatures that should probably not be added
Some of these may be useful to mention, but I don't think they are antifeatures:
- Nonfree network services -> network services aren't free or nonfree.
- Minified code -> minified code isn't considered source code, therefore the program isn't free in the first place.
- Service as a Software Substitute (SaaSS) -> as long as the program allows self-hosting, the program is free (e.g. Vaultwarden, Etherpad).
- Upstream nonfree -> this means that the upstream code includes proprietary code, but the documented program has removed nonfree blobs. there is no need to inform users about the proprietary version.
- Nonfree dependencies -> the program wouldn't work on a FSDG approved distro, so the program is nonfree.
- Nonfree documentation -> free documentation is an FSD requirement. no need to mention nonfree documentation if free documentation exists.
- Ads -> this is not a freedom issue.
- Tracking -> this is not a freedom issue.
- Utility flaws -> this is not a freedom issue.
- Security vulnerability -> this is not a freedom issue.
- Free fork needed -> means that the program switched to a proprietary license. though users should be warned about the latest free version, it's up to the community whether.
- Uses a name to avoid -> this is neither an antifeature nor a freedom issue.
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