69 lines
5.1 KiB
Markdown
69 lines
5.1 KiB
Markdown
# Less Retarded Software
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Less retarded software (LRS) is a specific kind of [software](software.md) aiming to be a truly good technology maximally benefiting and respecting its users, following the philosophy of extreme [minimalism](minimalism.md) ([Unix philosophy](unix_philosophy.md), [suckless](suckless.md), [KISS](kiss.md)) and [freedom](free_software.md). The term was invented by [drummyfish](drummyfish.md).
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## Definition
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The definition here is not strict but rather fuzzy, it is in a form of ideas, style and common practices that together help us subjectively identify software as less retarded.
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[Software](software.md) is less retarded if it adheres, to a high-degree (not necessarily fully), to the following principles:
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- Being made with a [**truly selfless**](selfless.md) goal of maximally helping all living beings who may use the software without any intent of taking advantage of them in any way.
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- Trying to follow the [Unix philosophy](unix_philosophy.md) (do one thing well, use text interfaces, ...).
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- Trying to follow the [suckless](suckless.md) philosophy (configs as source files, distributing in source form, ...).
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- Being [minimalist](minimalism.md) ([single compilation unit](single_compilation_unit.md), [header-only](header_only.md) libraries, no build systems, no [OOP](oop.md) languages, ...), countercomplex, [KISS](kiss.md).
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- Being [free software](free_software.md) legally but ALSO practically (well commented, not bloated and obscured etc., so as to truly and practically enable the freedoms to study, modify etc.).
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- Being [free culture](free_culture.md), i.e. LRS programs are free as a whole, including art assets, data etc.
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- Minimizing [dependencies](dependency.md), even those such as standard library or relying on OS concepts such as files or threads, even indirect ones such as build systems and even non-software ones (e.g. avoiding [floating point](float.md), GPU, 64bit etc.).
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- Very portable, non-discriminating, i.e. being written in a portable language (C etc.), using as little resources as possible (RAM, CPU, ...) and so on.
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- [Future-proof](future_proof.md), [self-contained](self_contained.md), not controlled by anyone (should follow from other points).
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- [Hacking](hacking.md) friendly and inviting to improvements and customization.
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- Built on top of other LRS technology such as the [C99](c.md) language, Unix OS, our own libraries etc.
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- Simple permissive licensing (being suckless legally) with great preference of [public domain](public_domain.md), e.g. with [CC0](cc0.md) + patent [waivers](waiver.md).
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- Elegant by its simple, well thought-through solutions. (This is to be contrasted with modern rapid development.)
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- No [bullshit](bullshit.md) such as [codes of conduct](coc.md), tricky licensing conditions etc.
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## Politics
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The politics behind LRS is [anarcho pacifist](anpac.md) [communism](communism.md), but NOT [pseudoleftism](pseudoleftism.md) (i.e. we do not support political correctness, [COC](coc.md)s, [cancel culture](cancel_culture.md), Marxism-Leninism etc.). We aim for true social (not necessarily physical) equality of everyone, our technology helps everyone equally. We reject anti-equality means such as violence, bullying, censorship, [governments](government.md) and [capitalism](capitalism.md).
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**We love all living beings**, even those we disagree with and whom we dislike.
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## Specific Software
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The "official" LRS programs and libraries have so far been solely developed by [drummyfish](drummyfish.md), the "founder" of LRS. These include:
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- [Anarch](anarch.md): Game similar to [Doom](doom.md).
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- [raycastlib](raycastlib.md): Advanced 2D [raycasting](raycasting.md) rendering library.
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- [SAF](saf.md): Tiny library for small portable games.
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- [small3dlib](small3dlib.md): Simple software rasterizer for 3D rendering.
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- [smallchesslib](smallchesslib.md): Simple [chess](chess.md) library and engine ([AI](ai.md)).
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Apart from this software a lot of other software developed by other people and groups can be considered LRS, at least to a high degree (there is usually some minor inferiority e.g. in licensing). Especially [suckless](suckless.md) software mostly fits the LRS criteria. The following programs and libraries can be considered LRS at least to some degree:
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- [brainfuck](brainfuck.md)
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- [dwm](dwm.md)
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- [OpenBSD](openbsd.md)
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- [LIL](lil.md)
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- [lisp](lisp.md)
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- [st](st.md)
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- [badwolf](badwolf.md)
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- [surf](surf.md)
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- [tcc](tcc.md)
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- [vim](vim.md)
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- [Simon Tatham's portable puzzle collection](stppc.md)
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It is also possible to talk about LRS data formats, standards, designs and concepts as such etc. These might include:
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- [ASCII](ascii.md)
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- [RGB332](rgb332.md), [RGB565](rgb565.md)
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- [bytebeat](bytebeat.md)
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- [farbfeld](farbfeld.md)
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- [json](json.md)
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- [lambda calculus](lambda_calculus.md)
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- [markdown](markdown.md)
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- [ppm](ppm.md)
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- [reverse polish notation](rpn.md) as opposed to traditional expression notation with brackets, operator precedence and other bloat
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- [set theory](set_theory.md)
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- [textboards](textboard.md) and [imageboards](imageboard.md) as opposed to [forums](forum.md) (no registration, no users, simple interface)
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- [turing machine](turing_machine.md) |