It seems like the FOSS community is continuing to grow, and FOSS apps keep getting better (Immich reallh blew my mind recently), which is a big win 😎 but there are still many apps I use that I would kill for an open source alternative. I am curious what you guys think? Are there any apps you'd love alternatives for?

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[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

Because the purpose/function of the software isn't exactly the point of this particular discussion.

A lot of FOSS applications have what I'd call GIMP syndrome. The software is functional and powerful, but it's got the UX of a urinary tract infection, and the developers seem to have an outright religious need to KEEP the software in a perfectly capable but unusable state. GIMP is the example of this behavior, the developers have outright said terribleness is their vision and it shall not be altered. So GIMP is the technically correct yet permanently non-valid answer to "What's a FOSS alternative to Adobe Photoshop?"

Blender is one of the rare examples of a FOSS application that overcame GIMP syndrome. Blender is not only powerful and capable, but though a UI overhaul became decent to use as well. As a result it is seeing genuine adoption because it actually is the best answer to the question "what software will do this task?"

That's what this thread right now is talking about, wishing that FreeCAD would similarly reach that level of "not just surprisingly okay for free software, but actually objectively good" that Blender has.