vivaldi is proof that you can have privacy-respecting closed source programs
this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2021
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Vivaldi and Apple are proof that the "free software is all about privacy" message is ultimately detrimental to the free software community. As the FSF warned about, these proprietary software companies are adept in peddling the "privacy friendly" message and attacking the free software community in the process. I honestly think Vivaldi, Apple, and their ~~fans~~ stans are a bigger threat to the free software world than the Microsofts and Googles and such, because they at least put on the face of being "good" and "ethical" non-free software companies.
Although Vivaldi is not closed source in the classical sense, all the code is open for audit, but a small part is only allowed to use and modify at the user's personal level. There is an interesting interview with Jon von Tetzchner by the Linux community, about the recent inclusion of Vivaldi as the default browser in Manjaro Cinnamon (as of 11:30 min) in whose course it is evident. With this Manjaro is the second Distro which do this after FerenOS.
so true, how about we also not include google chrome as closed source in the classical sense, you can decompile and audit it after all
edit: major mistake lol
Vivaldi don't need to be decompiled to audit the source
https://github.com/ric2b/Vivaldi-browser
The only thing which isn't full open is the license. Only for private use of the Vivaldi user, who can modify it to his needs, in the forum include there are threads to show how to mod Vivaldi. (Although naturally the user does it at his own risk if his modification does not work as expected) https://forum.vivaldi.net/category/52/modifications
Chromium isn't Chrome, Chromium is OpenSource forked by a lot of Browsers as engine, also Chrome and Edge, both are with a thick closed source layer with all kind of tracking scripts. It's not the same. The protected part of Vivaldi are exclusive of the special UI it has, different from all other browsers, its open for audit. Vivaldi, more than a simple browser is an online suite with a lot of tools which no other has and the biggest setting page of all browsers out there, where you can adjust all aspects of the Browser and its privacy. Nothing to do with Chrome.
read your own last comment, you yourself linked chromium part of vivaldi, the same part used by google chrome
you may not like it but vivaldi falls extremely close to google chrome, open source wise at least
I linked to the Vivaldi source, more than only the Chromium part., a lot more. No other Cromiun has this UI and functionallity, none of them. Try Vivald and see it yourself. https://i.imgur.com/KgC3c3a.png
