Anarchist Software Manifesto

Software design guidelines based on the values of anarchy and liberty instead of state laws and restrictive standards.

Introduction

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 their main goals.

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

The Manifesto

• The functionality and features of the software should be based solely on technical and usability considerations, not on “applicable laws”, such as “age verification regulations”.

• Any reference to “laws”, e. g., “data protection laws”, “copyright laws”, and “age verification 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 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 or generic names, e. g., web browser instead of Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.

• 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 “UN” flag. The use of flags should be strongly discouraged. Names and symbols of countries and “international organizations” should only be used when absolutely necessary.

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