Re: FSF continuously harms Free Hardware

[Jacob Hrbek]

> It is nice that that exists -- but I am not going to make my own LED 
bulbs. I don't have the know-how or the time. -- RMS
> So I buy commercially made LED bulbs in a store.  Their designs are 
not free, but I don't see that as an issue _for this kind of hardware_.  
(See https://gnu.org/philosophy/free-hardware-designs.html for why not.) 
-- RMS

Why are you dismissing the hardware freedom to everyone else just 
because you "don't have the time"? For me projects like relativty 
<https://github.com/relativty/Relativty> that gives me a set of 
instructions on how to build the VR headset with hardware, software and 
chasis files that expects that i make everything myself or source the 
parts myself and to which i can contribute to is perfect and what i want 
FSF to support.

Note that i do not dismiss your preferred way of getting the LED bulbs, 
i think it's perfectly acceptable as long as free hardware alternative 
does not exists, but my argument is that this exact behavior by FSF is 
what is causing the continuous harm as for people like me who love to 
design free hardware FSF just constantly puts roadblocks in my way that 
prevent me from fully focusing on the development..

> They need to screw into the fan/lamp fixture on the ceiling. -- RMS

FreeCAD will help you design the socket, should take max 2 min, but the 
provided chasis on thingiverse already has the mounting solution 
included and there are so many designs that i think that you will find 
the one that fits your usecase.

> In addition, they may need a special circuit for dimming. -- RMS
> That fixture has a switch which was built old-fashioned bulbs, which 
you could dim just by reducing the voltage.  These dimmable bulbs have 
to respond to that signal somehow. -- RMS

In the proposal the "Special circuit for dimming" is handled by arduino 
which is a microcontroller that can be programmed easily through 
software, so no need for soldering just plugging in a dupont connectors 
like lego and you can design it anyway you want e.g. using a phone app, 
light switch in the wall etc.. (also plugs in like lego and the modules 
are commercially available)

This argument is like comparing a FizzBuzz written in C and saying that 
it's not practical nor possible to me tbh.

> let alone make the bulb. -- RMS

Took me 37 seconds on average to download the file from thingiverse and 
schedule a 3D print and if that is too much work for you then we can 
apply Free Software philosophy here and pay someone to design it and 
release it as Free Hardware for them to only give you the finished 
product. (which in terms of dimmable LEDs would most likely be 
significantly more economical in comparison to those that are 
commercially available in mainstream stores and has a set lifetime)

On 1/29/22 05:08, Richard Stallman wrote:
> It is nice that that exists -- but I am not going to make my own LED bulbs.
> I don't have the know-how or the time.

--
Jacob Hrbek

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