Anarchist Software Manifesto

Open source software is generally a good choice for people who value anarchy. However, even operating systems such as Linux and BSD are often not designed with liberty in the anarchist sense as one of the main goals.

The purpose of this document is to list areas that need consideration when aiming to build software that follows the anarchist spirit:

• Many Linux-based desktop environments and open source programs currently use “country flags” to represent languages. In some distributions, the icon of the Languages system settings even resembles the “UNO” flag. Use of flags should be strongly discouraged. Country names should only be used when absolutely necessary.

• The names of some software packages and their artwork are “trademarked” or “copyrighted”. Whilst this software can be used, legally protected names should be replaced by alternative names or generic names, e. g., web browser instead of Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.

• Any reference to “laws”, e. g., “data protection laws” and “copyright laws”, should be removed from the software.

• “Standards” in their current form are mainly used to protect the power of certain players in the industry. It might be necessary to follow specific standards to remain interoperable, however, use of the standardization institutes’ names should be discouraged.

• The use of date/time and numbering/counting should be reconsidered as those mechanisms had been invented to or can be used to gain power over other people (measuring working time, counting things one “possesses”). In case calendars are used, neither state nor religious “holidays” should be marked.