For most things I default towards free and open source software. If that doesn’t work, then I will look for a proprietary solution. There’s only a few areas where this is relevant.

I use Chrome browser for work. I have Steam, which is fantastic but is absolutely proprietary. Not much outside of that.

As much as possible, I don’t use proprietary software. I bought a Pixel phone specifically so that I could run GrapheneOS (which has been great), and the only non-FOSS stuff I use is basically web tools for communication, like Slack/Discord/etc. As much as web-as-a-platform sucks (and it has many shortcomings), at least things tend to just work now on Linux, one way or another.

I prefer that it is easy to use, and that it is stable. I don’t care if it’s open source or closed source. I’ll pay either way. Tips or donations or just straight pay for it.

a side note for those that do free open source and want donations or tips, … make it easy to donate. I ran into one piece of software that said please donate. I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how. I gave up. And just use the software for free.

I do my best to only use foss. I prefer it in every way.

Exclusively Linux desktop since 2003

Rebooted a total of 3 times

(Ok second one is hyperbole)

I prefer FOSS because it focuses on creating something good instead of something that focuses on extracting as much money possible.

All day every day. I’m a linux user both at home and at work. The only closed source software I use is Bitwig, steam, and the games I play.

When I need software that does X, and I have multiple alternatives, my order of preference for exploring goes like this:

1. Anything that can be installed via apt-get
2. Same as above, but with added repos
3. Something found on github with a release ready for download
4. Same as above, but I build it myself
5. Closed source
6. Paid closed source

(Notice how snap isn’t in the list?)

Of course, quality of the software matters, which means the list isn’t 100% accurate in all cases. Bitwig is paid closed source, but I prefer that over Ardour, and it’s IMHO miles better.

I prefer FOSS over Proprietary software for my personal life. I look for FOSS alternatives first and only if it is extremely unsuitable or missing crucial features I’ll go for the non-FOSS versions.

For work, since other people are paying me to use proprietary software, I will use whatever. In a professional capacity I am publicly searchable anyway.

All else being equal I prefer foss software over proprietary. But I use the best tool for the job. If it’s proprietary then so be it.

Yeah if there’s an equivalent.

i will honestly take a little comfort hit to use FOSS over proprietary because i do want want most tech companies to die and go to hell but u know… sometimes u gotta go proprietary and some companies are better than others

Yes, I prefer FOSS. The degree to which proprietary software actively works against the users’ interests has increased significantly over the past couple decades, as has the tendency for anything successful to get enshittified. I’m not a hardcore ideologue about it, but if a FOSS option does what I need, and it usually does, then that’s what I use.

Some important software on my laptop:

• Arch Linux
• KDE
• Firefox
• Darktable
• Emacs
• Betterbird
• Joplin
• Syncthing
• VLC
• Bitwarden

All FOSS. I play a few games that aren’t, and a lot of things I access through the browser aren’t. I have a Windows 11 install I used to boot somewhat frequently for games, but don’t since I discovered Lutris takes the fuss out of running most games on Linux.

And on my phone (italics indicate not FOSS):

• LineageOS
• Waterfox
• Thunderbird
• Signal
• WhatsApp
• AntennaPod
• Waze
• Google Maps
• Joplin
• KOReader
• Syncthing-fork
• VLC
• Connect for Lemmy
• Bitwarden

I have FOSS fallbacks for the things that aren’t aside from a couple group chats in WhatsApp. One of those is toying with moving to Signal, but collective action problems are hard.

Anything that I want to last for a long time. Most proprietary software has only a few years worth of shelf life, before it either turns to shit or ceases to exist. And I most prefer foss for applications where I generate the data and want complete control over it, such as notes, images etc, both for security and privacy along with longevity and full control

Absolutely. Linux on the desktop, f-droid on my Android phone. The fact if something irritates me enough I can download the code and fix it.

I’m lucky I have a job working with FLOSS software. I don’t think I could go back to hacking on propriety code.

Almost everything, with a few exceptions (Obsidian in a local-first environment, YouTube, most games).