[Feature request] Hide apps that take your data hostage (aka lock-in, localized monopolism)
Problem
Many programs, even while open-source, still employ the same behavior as “proprietary” software, like data lock-in, and take your data hostage, by not supporting open standard file formats and protocols (as main data formats or at least via import/export). Making switching to alternatives without often extensive manual typewriting or copy/pasting almost impossible. Often intentionally so.
This is an anti-feature.
• Instant messengers, generally commercial software, and e.g. Firefox are negative examples of this. The „cloud“ is mostly used for that specific purpose too.
• E-Mail, XMPP (with federation!), and PIM tools (like OpenTasks) that support CalDAV/CardDAV or similar protocols, or even better, apps that store the data in regular (syncable, remote-hostable) files, are positive examples of how it's done right.
Solution
If this feature were implemented, it could be done like this:
The metadata for each app would contain a field exchange data format(s)/protocol(s)
that would be an index or array of indexes into an (accumulated) table/list of open protocols and file formats with the specific purpose of allowing the exchange of data by multiple alternative apps (in the sense of alternativeto.net or open industry standards).
That list could be empty, and by default would be, indicating a data lock-in situation that makes it hard to switch. The client would treat this situation like any other anti-feature, and allow hiding such apps. It would also display, which protocols/formats are supported (because we’d have the data anyway, and because that lets you quickly see if you can migrate easily from your current software or even back).
For example, for OpenTasks, the field could contain CalDAV
. For a office suite, OpenDocument
, for K9 IMAP,POP3,SMTP
or for a Jabber client, XMPP
.
Motivation
The emotional motivation for this is, that I’m sick and tired of being forced to use software that locks me into limiting functionality and doesn’t let me extend it with other software or a quick shell script, and doesn’t even let me leave. Such behavior has no place in an open community that thrives on the advantages of sharing.
Meanwhile, I can happily extensively rework my OpenTasks tasks in a desktop application, run a script against the CalDAV files on my home server, and keep using OpenTasks. And I can happily send an e-mail from @gmail.com
to @startmail.com
with whatever client I like, even telnet
.