Why do I choose open source? Well, I believe it's crucial to keep information open and accessible to everyone. When knowledge is freely available, it benefits society as a whole and can't be used as a tool for control or exploitation. The idea of locking things away with a tight grip just to squeeze profit out of it feels counterproductive to our growth as a species. I release my projects as open source because I want to share what I’m learning and the thought processes behind my work. Despite living with a disability caused by a brain injury that affects my legs and speech, I've dedicated myself to programming. I’ve spent years practicing every day, pushing through challenges, and improving my skills.
Making my code open source also allows others to contribute by finding bugs and pointing out mistakes I might have missed. It’s a great way to collaborate and improve software collectively. People can enjoy the software more freely—without restrictions like DRM—by being able to copy, modify, and share it however they like. It creates a more open and inclusive environment for everyone.
I work across different operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, and I always aim to make my applications cross-platform. Using open source libraries helps a lot with this because they come with excellent documentation and community support. Plus, with the growing resources available through LLMs and other online tools, it’s easier than ever to find the help and guidance needed to develop quality software.
Keeping information behind closed doors is, in my opinion, the wrong approach. We can see how harmful it is when people are censored or limited in what they can learn and how they learn it. Too often, those in power want to control knowledge to serve their own interests, keeping others in the dark. Open source prevents this by ensuring information remains public and available to everyone. Instead of dangling knowledge like a carrot in front of a donkey, it allows people to take control, modify things to suit their needs, and truly benefit from shared knowledge.
- Jared Bruni