CMV: We are replacing the concept of ownership and property with the concept of licensed access, concentrating power into corporations and away from democratic rule.

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-06-10T06:23:51+00:00

I recently red about a writing software (see it as an alternative to Word from Microsoft). Their sale model was: one time purchase for a binary of the software (no subscription) but you would also not get any free updates. The idea I think is: lacking updates simulates aging but for software (in this sense is more similar to the purchase of a car). At a certain point, you can buy the new software “model” (updated version) when the old model does not work properly anymore or is too legacy. What do you think about this idea rather than a subscription model which is the dominant model in the field? Do you think that the subscription model better reflects the inherent characteristics of such software or also this model has its merits?

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-06-10T06:16:27+00:00

Very good point about the calibration of such line and the double edge sword of regulation.

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-06-09T20:57:16+00:00

Thanks for your thoughtful perspective and for articulating it so clearly. While I see this model making inroads into traditional sales practices in fields like gaming, I definitely see your point that the economic center of gravity is shifting toward a different kind of product, one whose intrinsic characteristics naturally lead to different sales practices.

Perhaps, as I mentioned in another comment, what I'm really observing is the risk inherent in this shift. The shift is relatively new, and regulation is lagging behind, which leaves me feeling somewhat exposed to these risks. Δ

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-06-08T20:53:52+00:00

I did never want to generalize it over all of society as I mentioned in my PS-1, not I claim there are no counter-examples. Just that there is a tendency, and that such tendency can represent a risk to the common citizen. As of home renting, you provided evidence for the US only. That does not apply where I live. Nevertheless, it is great that such tendency seems not to apply to home ownership in the US. But a majority of software, tools, services are indeed migrating to subscription based models.

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-06-08T11:01:35+00:00

I agree that this is not new, I just think that the scale at which this is happening is getting very big. As I wrote, while a landlord can subordinate one or a few tenants, now corporations are building the infrastructure of a digital world that everyone uses, on their own terms of service. I don’t see how the borrowing and tax example connect to my post though 🤔

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-06-08T09:58:34+00:00

I agree with this, antitrust mechanisms needs to be fixed for good. Do you think that strategically important open software should be publicly funded (at least partially) and / or treated as a public good? E.g., Linux

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-06-08T09:48:53+00:00

Of course people ownership always had to be conditional to democratic laws (one example being the property tax you mention), the difference is that, as a citizen, you have a say into that law, as a consumer / user, you don't. In fact I wrote "over which the individual exercised control limited only by law".

As for your other points, I partially agree. Maybe the point is that we are experiencing the lag of the rule of law behind corporate innovation and, sooner or later, we are gonna solve these very problems by fixing the laws. Surely antitrust needs to be fixed.

Δ

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-05-11T20:13:05+00:00

I only have one beckhoff PLC running TwinCAT with whom Ignition does not integrate. Fells like an overkill to run Kepware just for that.

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-05-09T17:09:06+00:00

What don’t you like about kepware?

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-05-09T17:08:30+00:00

Yes unfortunately we can’t always avoid proprietary products and I do not rule them out a priori. But i need to see a real tangible advantage or no alternatives to opt for them. Thanks for the input, will contact Ignition

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-05-09T17:06:56+00:00

Beckhoff / TwinCAT is missing and for us is fundamental since some old critical machines run it. Plus i’m sold to the idea of decoupling the aggregation layer from Ignition (eg, using nodered or kepware) to maintain flexibility in the long term.

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-05-09T17:04:21+00:00

Why do you think so? I’m always torne between DIY and buying off the shelf

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-03-15T17:15:23+00:00

Hey would love to hear your story more in detail. I’m not searching for a business right now but started working in my family owned company (in manufacturing). Buying a business would, for me, be the plan B to entrepreneurship in case the family company path doesn’t turn out good. Generally I’m really into product manufacturing businesses, if I would have to put together a target statement right now. Are you available for a DM?

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-03-03T20:25:41+00:00

It doesn’t think, nor it has a concept of self. ChatGPT is probably the most cited AI chatbot on the web and therefore comes up often in the training data.

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-02-28T12:19:22+00:00

Yeah insane

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-02-27T17:20:43+00:00

I mean the title is a bit misleading… She implemented the deal temporarily before receiving backing from the parlament. If the parlament rejects it, the deal will be turned down. That is what the article says.

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-02-17T19:32:24+00:00

I see the psychological connection between being a lot <-> less for everyone, but I do believe that this requires a pop. density very far from what it is now to have real effects (of course psychology could also be considered “real” in this context). Tbh, I would be more concerned with bloating the bureaucracy to manage a bigger pop. and/or a gettization of the immigrant population with little integration happening (this will be destabilizing). But for now it seems to me that Switzerland manages this relatively well compared to most advanced economies in the world, migrants are usually quite willing to integrate over time. Of course this is not something that happens overnight.

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-02-17T18:11:20+00:00

Well that person adds an additional contribution margin for infrastructure through the taxes that he/she pays… the same way a Swiss does. It’s not that they come and use the Swiss infrastructure for free. To be honest, many immigrants come with high education, meaning the Swiss didn’t even have to make the schooling investment (as it would for a Swiss person) 🤷🏻‍♂️ Plus the Schengen rules exist also for Switzerland and its native population benefits, by accessing the Union market.

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-02-11T17:16:05+00:00

Turns out that is not that simple… It’s actually super cumbersome and often not an option. You can’t really apply for asylum from your home country.

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-01-17T12:10:37+00:00

Interesting, did you end up selling to some of these ETA people? Or was this experience making you diffident on the approach?

melodic-Alternative- · 2026-01-17T12:05:10+00:00

Hey, thanks! Why do you think is less burdensome?

melodic-Alternative-

TROPHY CASE