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Coding agents could make free software matter again

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Re: Coding agents could make free software matter again

#31

Post by throwaw12 »

> SaaS scaled by exploiting a licensing loophole that let vendors avoid sharing their modifications.

AI is going to exploit even more: "Given the repository -> Construct tech spec -> Build project based on tech spec"

At this stage, I want everyone just close their source, stop working on open source until this issue of licensing gets resolved.

Any improvement you make to the open source code will be leveraged in ways you didn't intend it to be used, eventually making you redundant in the process

Re: Coding agents could make free software matter again

#33

Post by we4a »

First of all, free software still matters. Then, being a slave to a $200 subscription to a oligarch application that launders other people's copyright is not what Stallman envisioned.

The AI propaganda articles are getting more devious my the minute. It's not just propaganda---it's Bernays-level manipulation!

Re: Coding agents could make free software matter again

#34

Post by zephen »

The article makes zero sense to me.

It compares and contrasts open source and free software, and then gives an example of how free software is better than closed software.

But if the premise of the article, that the agent will take the package you pick and adapt it to your needs, is correct, then honestly the agent won't give a rat's ass whether the starting point was free source or open source.

Re: Coding agents could make free software matter again

#35

Post by BobbyJo »

advael wrote: post #30
apatheticonion wrote: post #21

Having over a decade of open source software I've written freely available online, I actually really appreciate the value that AI && LLMs have provided me. The thing that leaves a bad taste in my mouth is the fact that my works were likely included in the training data and, if it doesn't violate my licenses (GNU 2/3), it certainly feels against the spirit of what I intended when distributing my works. I was made redu…

I think there's no meaningful case by the letter of the law that use of training data that include GPL-licensed software in models that comprise the core component of modern LLMs doesn't obligate every producer of such models to make both the models and the software stack supporting them available under the same terms. Of course, it also seems clear in the present landscape that the law often depends more on the conv…

If the rise of Draft Kings and Polymarket/Kalshi have taught me anything, it's that the law becomes meaningless at scale. Sad.

Re: Coding agents could make free software matter again

#36

Post by try-working »

theturtletalks wrote: post #27

5 years ago, I set out to build an open-source, interoperable marketplace powered by open-source SaaS. It felt like a pipe dream, but AI has made the dream into fruition. People are underestimating how much AI is a threat to rent seeking middlemen in every industry.

You never get rid of the middleman. You become them.

Re: Coding agents could make free software matter again

#37

Post by jonahss »

apatheticonion wrote: post #21

Having over a decade of open source software I've written freely available online, I actually really appreciate the value that AI && LLMs have provided me. The thing that leaves a bad taste in my mouth is the fact that my works were likely included in the training data and, if it doesn't violate my licenses (GNU 2/3), it certainly feels against the spirit of what I intended when distributing my works. I was made redu…

I feel kind of good knowing that my code, design decisions, styles, are now part of the data shaping all software now.

Re: Coding agents could make free software matter again

#38

Post by __loam »

jonahss wrote: post #37
apatheticonion wrote: post #21

Having over a decade of open source software I've written freely available online, I actually really appreciate the value that AI && LLMs have provided me. The thing that leaves a bad taste in my mouth is the fact that my works were likely included in the training data and, if it doesn't violate my licenses (GNU 2/3), it certainly feels against the spirit of what I intended when distributing my works. I was made redu…

I feel kind of good knowing that my code, design decisions, styles, are now part of the data shaping all software now.

I can't eat good feelings

Re: Coding agents could make free software matter again

#39

Post by theturtletalks »

try-working wrote: post #36
theturtletalks wrote: post #27

5 years ago, I set out to build an open-source, interoperable marketplace powered by open-source SaaS. It felt like a pipe dream, but AI has made the dream into fruition. People are underestimating how much AI is a threat to rent seeking middlemen in every industry.

You never get rid of the middleman. You become them.

If that middleman is open-source and simply interops with SaaS that itself is open-source, there simply is no moat to exploit.

Re: Coding agents could make free software matter again

#40

Post by apatheticonion »

advael wrote: post #30
apatheticonion wrote: post #21

Having over a decade of open source software I've written freely available online, I actually really appreciate the value that AI && LLMs have provided me. The thing that leaves a bad taste in my mouth is the fact that my works were likely included in the training data and, if it doesn't violate my licenses (GNU 2/3), it certainly feels against the spirit of what I intended when distributing my works. I was made redu…

I think there's no meaningful case by the letter of the law that use of training data that include GPL-licensed software in models that comprise the core component of modern LLMs doesn't obligate every producer of such models to make both the models and the software stack supporting them available under the same terms. Of course, it also seems clear in the present landscape that the law often depends more on the conv…

I'm struggling to parse the double negative in that statement, haha.

Are you saying that you believe that untested but technically; models trained on GPL sources need to distribute the resulting LLMs under GPL?

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