Adam Younce
@ary.pub
Ethics in software and technology • Changing the things I can’t accept • Design • Programming • Security • https://ary.pub • https://github.com/aryounce
@joellau.bsky.social So upon rereading this an apology might be in order. I think I misunderstood you to be saying that I was asking a dumb question, but I think instead you were seeking clarification. I’ll expand on this a bit soon.
December 23, 2025 at 8:16 AM
@joellau.bsky.social So upon rereading this an apology might be in order. I think I misunderstood you to be saying that I was asking a dumb question, but I think instead you were seeking clarification. I’ll expand on this a bit soon.
Following up: for non-login, non-interactive shells running scripts as a system user you’re going to have to set PATH via the executing process.
The suggestion to use BASH_ENV is also a good one.
The suggestion to use BASH_ENV is also a good one.
December 23, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Following up: for non-login, non-interactive shells running scripts as a system user you’re going to have to set PATH via the executing process.
The suggestion to use BASH_ENV is also a good one.
The suggestion to use BASH_ENV is also a good one.
For shell scripts it matters a great deal given that the configuration loaded depends on which user is running the shell and whether or not it’s being run interactively (with an associated terminal) or not.
So I guess it being a “dumb” question is debatable, but it’s still relevant.
So I guess it being a “dumb” question is debatable, but it’s still relevant.
December 23, 2025 at 2:16 AM
For shell scripts it matters a great deal given that the configuration loaded depends on which user is running the shell and whether or not it’s being run interactively (with an associated terminal) or not.
So I guess it being a “dumb” question is debatable, but it’s still relevant.
So I guess it being a “dumb” question is debatable, but it’s still relevant.
Which user is the script executing as?
December 23, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Which user is the script executing as?
It’s worth noting that this situation is very different for iOS users VS Android users as well, but that’s an entire thread by itself.
December 14, 2025 at 4:58 PM
It’s worth noting that this situation is very different for iOS users VS Android users as well, but that’s an entire thread by itself.
Addendum for Meta VR devs: My interest in VR is non-existent and thus I have no advice for you. Go where the people are, I guess. You’re probably already aware of the alternatives and don’t need a push anyway.
December 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Addendum for Meta VR devs: My interest in VR is non-existent and thus I have no advice for you. Go where the people are, I guess. You’re probably already aware of the alternatives and don’t need a push anyway.
This is a choice like diet, exercise, and therapy are choices. I recognize that this recommendation isn’t trivial for most, but: you need to remove all corporations that shim themselves between you and the people in your life. Especially Meta.
December 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This is a choice like diet, exercise, and therapy are choices. I recognize that this recommendation isn’t trivial for most, but: you need to remove all corporations that shim themselves between you and the people in your life. Especially Meta.
Many will find this unpalatable, but fundamentally removing Meta as a middleman from your social life is a good, fundamental change. As a culture we are being stunted by smartphones and the Internet. Knowing how to be a human without a phone in your hand is necessary.
December 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Many will find this unpalatable, but fundamentally removing Meta as a middleman from your social life is a good, fundamental change. As a culture we are being stunted by smartphones and the Internet. Knowing how to be a human without a phone in your hand is necessary.
Where things get difficult is with social connections, followers, and social expectations. Depending on your generation and personal identity investment in things like Instagram this might be trivial or a crisis. The first step is to realize you can actually walk away.
December 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Where things get difficult is with social connections, followers, and social expectations. Depending on your generation and personal identity investment in things like Instagram this might be trivial or a crisis. The first step is to realize you can actually walk away.
You’ll have photos, posts, and chats on Meta’s services but these can all be downloaded for reposting and/or safe keeping. See: m.facebook.com/help/8361654... & help.instagram.com/181231772500...
December 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
You’ll have photos, posts, and chats on Meta’s services but these can all be downloaded for reposting and/or safe keeping. See: m.facebook.com/help/8361654... & help.instagram.com/181231772500...
Meta (nee, Facebook) might in some ways be both the easiest and most difficult company to cast off. The possible data loss is basically posts and chats, so it depends on how you’ve used it up till now. More difficult to quantity still though, you social connections.
December 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Meta (nee, Facebook) might in some ways be both the easiest and most difficult company to cast off. The possible data loss is basically posts and chats, so it depends on how you’ve used it up till now. More difficult to quantity still though, you social connections.
Right, and I agree (but quibble a bit with your characterization of Drive based on their ToS language). My focus was on issues beyond the easy stuff like switching to Firefox. That’s very well covered by others.
December 14, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Right, and I agree (but quibble a bit with your characterization of Drive based on their ToS language). My focus was on issues beyond the easy stuff like switching to Firefox. That’s very well covered by others.
This is a good point, but I didn’t include it because it’s a “if there’s a will there’s a way” issue. You can move to Dropbox, et al., but it’s tedious. Wherever you go you’re downloading and re-uploading.
Once again, incrementally breaking dependence is the name of the game.
Once again, incrementally breaking dependence is the name of the game.
December 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
This is a good point, but I didn’t include it because it’s a “if there’s a will there’s a way” issue. You can move to Dropbox, et al., but it’s tedious. Wherever you go you’re downloading and re-uploading.
Once again, incrementally breaking dependence is the name of the game.
Once again, incrementally breaking dependence is the name of the game.
Finally: This deserves its own thread, but Amazon Web Services is pretty difficult for developers to pull away from. Many, myself included, must use it for our jobs. Once again, incremental progress is still progress, so finding ways to spend less on AWS is a step in the right direction.
December 14, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Finally: This deserves its own thread, but Amazon Web Services is pretty difficult for developers to pull away from. Many, myself included, must use it for our jobs. Once again, incremental progress is still progress, so finding ways to spend less on AWS is a step in the right direction.
Amazon alternative for Alexa: Absolutely Nothing.
There is no reasonable alternative to a little computer screen with a microphone and a camera that is always connected to the Internet and just sits around your house waiting for you to talk to it. This is just a bad idea, and shouldn’t be replaced.
There is no reasonable alternative to a little computer screen with a microphone and a camera that is always connected to the Internet and just sits around your house waiting for you to talk to it. This is just a bad idea, and shouldn’t be replaced.
December 14, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Amazon alternative for Alexa: Absolutely Nothing.
There is no reasonable alternative to a little computer screen with a microphone and a camera that is always connected to the Internet and just sits around your house waiting for you to talk to it. This is just a bad idea, and shouldn’t be replaced.
There is no reasonable alternative to a little computer screen with a microphone and a camera that is always connected to the Internet and just sits around your house waiting for you to talk to it. This is just a bad idea, and shouldn’t be replaced.
Amazon alternative for e-readers & ebooks: Rakuten Kobo
www.kobo.com
It’s an ereader with a touch screen and a stylus, and it all works really well. The various Kobo models have their own store but they also trivially allow side loading ebooks, PDFs, etc. just by plugging into a computer.
www.kobo.com
It’s an ereader with a touch screen and a stylus, and it all works really well. The various Kobo models have their own store but they also trivially allow side loading ebooks, PDFs, etc. just by plugging into a computer.
Rakuten Kobo
Open up to over 6 million eBooks and audiobooks on award-winning eReaders and the free Rakuten Kobo App. Find Daily Deals, read previews & reviews and get book recommendations.
www.kobo.com
December 14, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Amazon alternative for e-readers & ebooks: Rakuten Kobo
www.kobo.com
It’s an ereader with a touch screen and a stylus, and it all works really well. The various Kobo models have their own store but they also trivially allow side loading ebooks, PDFs, etc. just by plugging into a computer.
www.kobo.com
It’s an ereader with a touch screen and a stylus, and it all works really well. The various Kobo models have their own store but they also trivially allow side loading ebooks, PDFs, etc. just by plugging into a computer.
Amazon alternative for books: Bookshop.org
bookshop.org/info/about-us
Beside your local bookstores this is a great place to start for books. The business model supports independent book sellers and helps prevent the total collapse of the industry under Amazon hegemony.
bookshop.org/info/about-us
Beside your local bookstores this is a great place to start for books. The business model supports independent book sellers and helps prevent the total collapse of the industry under Amazon hegemony.
Bookshop.org: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.
A better way to buy books online. Every purchase financially supports local independent bookstores.
Bookshop.org
December 14, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Amazon alternative for books: Bookshop.org
bookshop.org/info/about-us
Beside your local bookstores this is a great place to start for books. The business model supports independent book sellers and helps prevent the total collapse of the industry under Amazon hegemony.
bookshop.org/info/about-us
Beside your local bookstores this is a great place to start for books. The business model supports independent book sellers and helps prevent the total collapse of the industry under Amazon hegemony.
There are good alternatives to Amazon for the individual consumer, but don’t feel like you must completely remove it from your life in one go. When you can’t find what you need elsewhere, go ahead and order it on Amazon. Be sure to start with an alternative and only fall back when you need to.
December 14, 2025 at 1:21 AM
There are good alternatives to Amazon for the individual consumer, but don’t feel like you must completely remove it from your life in one go. When you can’t find what you need elsewhere, go ahead and order it on Amazon. Be sure to start with an alternative and only fall back when you need to.
Depending on your circumstances shopping on Amazon can be difficult to avoid. One way to reduce how often that happens is to cancel Amazon Prime. Being confronted with shipping costs causes you to naturally reconsider every purchase. Use it when you need it, but create a penalty for doing so.
December 14, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Depending on your circumstances shopping on Amazon can be difficult to avoid. One way to reduce how often that happens is to cancel Amazon Prime. Being confronted with shipping costs causes you to naturally reconsider every purchase. Use it when you need it, but create a penalty for doing so.
Amazon has an overall less firm, direct grip on Internet users (we’ll address AWS) but the hooks into your life it does have are pretty invasive. The three most problematic are probably: shopping on Amazon, reading via Kindle, and leaning on Alexa as a personal assistant.
December 14, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Amazon has an overall less firm, direct grip on Internet users (we’ll address AWS) but the hooks into your life it does have are pretty invasive. The three most problematic are probably: shopping on Amazon, reading via Kindle, and leaning on Alexa as a personal assistant.
Addendum: It’s worth acknowledging that if, like me, you have a ton of Google Maps bookmarks there isn’t a good alternative. Of all Google’s “moats” this is probably the most difficult to replace. Once again, incrementally moving away is far better than cold turkey.
December 13, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Addendum: It’s worth acknowledging that if, like me, you have a ton of Google Maps bookmarks there isn’t a good alternative. Of all Google’s “moats” this is probably the most difficult to replace. Once again, incrementally moving away is far better than cold turkey.
Your dependence on Google might be a lot deeper than mine, and if that’s true you can at least use Google Takeout to back things up. At a minimum, taking the first step to get your email moved elsewhere is strongly recommended. takeout.google.com
Sign in - Google Accounts
takeout.google.com
December 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Your dependence on Google might be a lot deeper than mine, and if that’s true you can at least use Google Takeout to back things up. At a minimum, taking the first step to get your email moved elsewhere is strongly recommended. takeout.google.com
Finally, while I use Google Chat with some friends I don’t have anything there that would be a problem to lose so I don’t worry about it much. Should Google close my accounts I could fairly easily move on with life.
December 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Finally, while I use Google Chat with some friends I don’t have anything there that would be a problem to lose so I don’t worry about it much. Should Google close my accounts I could fairly easily move on with life.