Comments on: Free Software Syndrome http://blog.mikebruckner.com/2009/03/25/free-software-syndrome/ Welcome! Stay! Read my thoughts! Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:31:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: todd http://blog.mikebruckner.com/2009/03/25/free-software-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-32 todd Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:23:01 +0000 http://bigenohs.com/mbruckner/blog/?p=139#comment-32 Personally, I will only use Pidgin (aka gaim before they had to change the name). I HATE bloated software, such as Trillian. I used to use Trillian back in the day... but it just became too much. I tried out digsby for a little bit, but it too was just too much. Clients like Pidgin or Adium (on the Mac) are amazingly powerful, while not being resource intensive. I honestly have no idea why you wouldn't like Pidgin. You can change everything about it if for some reason you don't like the icons. Perhaps you need to learn some perl scripting for Pidgin to really see what cool things it can do! Personally, I will only use Pidgin (aka gaim before they had to change the name). I HATE bloated software, such as Trillian. I used to use Trillian back in the day… but it just became too much. I tried out digsby for a little bit, but it too was just too much. Clients like Pidgin or Adium (on the Mac) are amazingly powerful, while not being resource intensive. I honestly have no idea why you wouldn’t like Pidgin. You can change everything about it if for some reason you don’t like the icons.

Perhaps you need to learn some perl scripting for Pidgin to really see what cool things it can do!

]]> By: Justin http://blog.mikebruckner.com/2009/03/25/free-software-syndrome/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Justin Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:39:09 +0000 http://bigenohs.com/mbruckner/blog/?p=139#comment-31 Be careful of your use of the term "free software". In the FSF definition, it would mean freedom to modify and redistribute (but not necessarily free of cost). I also think Pidgin is much better than you give it credit for. In fact, I like it more than digsby in many ways; the fact that it can check my email doesn't necessarily mean it will do a better job than a dedicated mail program would (since it is an IM program after all). Same with twitter and all those other non-IM services. Pidgin is strictly IM, and does that very well. And it's also possible to make a plugin for Pidgin to extend its functionality; as far as I know, that feature does not exist in digsby. Also, if Sean Egan (lead developer of Pidgin) were ever to pull a digsby, the source code (prior to the addition of the crap) could be forked into another project, thanks to the wonders of version control. Not saying that would happen, mind you, but there's always a backup plan. As for the icons... eh, I personally like them. They're designed to be simple and obvious as to what they represent, and I think they accomplish this very well. I've always found digsby's icons rather rough and uninviting. You could dislike them, fine, but it's not like they're ugly or annoying to look at. As such, I wouldn't consider the icons a deterrent to Pidgin, and certainly not a reason to use something else instead. Anyway, that's my $0.02 Be careful of your use of the term “free software”. In the FSF definition, it would mean freedom to modify and redistribute (but not necessarily free of cost).

I also think Pidgin is much better than you give it credit for. In fact, I like it more than digsby in many ways; the fact that it can check my email doesn’t necessarily mean it will do a better job than a dedicated mail program would (since it is an IM program after all). Same with twitter and all those other non-IM services. Pidgin is strictly IM, and does that very well. And it’s also possible to make a plugin for Pidgin to extend its functionality; as far as I know, that feature does not exist in digsby.

Also, if Sean Egan (lead developer of Pidgin) were ever to pull a digsby, the source code (prior to the addition of the crap) could be forked into another project, thanks to the wonders of version control. Not saying that would happen, mind you, but there’s always a backup plan.

As for the icons… eh, I personally like them. They’re designed to be simple and obvious as to what they represent, and I think they accomplish this very well. I’ve always found digsby’s icons rather rough and uninviting. You could dislike them, fine, but it’s not like they’re ugly or annoying to look at. As such, I wouldn’t consider the icons a deterrent to Pidgin, and certainly not a reason to use something else instead.

Anyway, that’s my $0.02

]]>