The Fulcrum

Announcing LESS - the Liberté, Egalité, Solidarité Stack

This article originally appeared on The Fulcrum.

Stacked shipping container all great except one green one

Announcing the Liberté, Egalité, Solidarité Stack

Corporate surveillance, techno feudalist tech sucks and people want to leave it. But, some people have trouble with selecting individual tools that work well together. LESS is our very opinionated selection of a coherent stack. We want to make it easy for you to tell big tech to sod off.

Our Manade project will transition into supporting and promoting this decentralized democratic tech stack. As stated here, I think Manade is going to fail to reach its original objective and better choices have become available for the masses. So we are pivoting on its fulcrum. 😉

With the new focus we aim to reduce decision paralysis and KISS for end users of tech. We want to help you escape the increasingly fascist techshit we are all stuck with. If you are interested in all the details, read our Techno Anarchist Manifesto.

The LESS stack can provide everything you need to function in today's overly complicated and enshittifying techspace. It's also friendly with alternatives to the more frivolous things we are addicted to like doom scrolling, streaming, and gaming apps. Using LESS has the additional benefit of weakening authoritarianism. And it exists today using tech that has been around for years.

The name is obviously inspired by KISS, the philosophy that "less is more", and the ideals of the country where we live, France. Long live liberty, equality, and solidarity.

LESS Requirements

As much as possible our suggestions will comply with the following requirements. We will make exceptions for simplicity.

 

So, let's explore what will be the ever evolving and changing composition of our opinionated stack. Keeping the tech simple is the aim of this admittedly complex strategy. I will bold what I personally use.

 

 

Desktop

Linux is a fully competitive alternative to Chrome, Windows, and Mac so there is no excuse for using anything but it for your computers. All of the applications below have Linux options or work in the browser.

Linux Operating System

These distributions are the simplest and easiest to use for non-Linux savvy people.

 

Linux Hardware

Fortunately, almost any computer you now own can be converted to a Linux-based one.

But that is not always simple to do yourself, so the easiest option is to buy a new or refurbished Linux computer (if you can afford it).

Reputable European vendors include:

 

If you have a tight budget, search out a local organization to help you convert your existing computer to a Linux operating system. This is an unfortunate friction.

 

 

Mobile

We hope in the future that Linux phones will be an option for the masses. But, they face many challenges and especially on the technical front. They are slowly improving while loosing market share.

Until this changes the best option is a surveillance-free, de-googled Android device. And it would be awesome if Android was forked. Google is doing its best to enshittify it.

De-googled Android

 

Linux

If you are adventurous, tech savvy, and can settle for a simpler mobile experience and mediocre camera, Linux options are available.

 

 

Chat

Matrix

If you are good at convincing personal acquaintances to make ethical choices, convince them to join you on Matrix.

 

Signal

If you want to interact with the mainstream, Signal is your option even if its not XMPP-based.

 

 

Cloud

Nextcloud

I use Nextcloud to store personal photos and all the assets for The Fulcrum and Manade. Obviously, you should also back up everything locally (once on a computer and once on a separate hard drive.)

Framaspace

I should use Framaspace as I a semi-fluent in French.

Murena

If you have a Murena de-googled phone, Murena has their version of G-Suite. Which can also be used on any de-googled phone.

 

 

Office Suite

Libreoffice

If I have to edit a document I did not create, I prefer Libreoffice.

Joplin

Since I write everything in Markdown, I use Joplin. And you should too. It's the simplest option.

Murena

Again, if you have a Murena de-googled phone, Murena has their version of G-Suite apps.

 

 

Browser

Firefox clones

 

Tor

If you need extreme privacy, Tor is the way to go.

Eventually Servo

The most vital internet work going on at the moment is developing the browser engine, Servo. Let's hope there is a browser not based on Webkit or Chromium available soon.

 

 

Search Engine

 

I alternate between these because none of them are perfect at providing results. But, they are all better than the AI slop you get from mainstream browsers.

 

 

eMail

 

 

Open Social

Non-Mastodon Fediverse

 

If you want some capability for privacy, join the Fediverse.

Non-Bluesky Atmosphere

 

If you are ok with all your data being public, join the Atmosphere.

 

 

Website

The Open Media Network is an important bulwark against authoritarianism. Plus, you should share your voice with family, friends, and the rest of the world on an online home that you own. So, you should have a simple website. It doesn't matter what's on it. Just put your ideas out there. The more the better.

As Hamish Campbell notes:

“There is nothing magical or entirely new about the ideas behind the OMN.

Plumbing networks move water. Electrical grids distribute power. Neurons connect brain signals. Each works through connected parts, local relationships and flows.

We can learn from these existing patterns instead of pretending every social problem needs a revolutionary new technology.

The challenge is not inventing everything again. It is applying simple ideas to build better social connections. KISS.

KISS (though not necessarily opensource) website builder options include:

 

If you are tech savvy, database-less, flat file options include:

 

If none of these float your boat, more are listed about 40% down on our Tools and Resources page.

 

 

RSS Reader

Your website should have an RSS feed. And you should follow your allies’ websites via an RSS reader.

 

 

Ok, it’s time to wrap this recommendation up.

 

Obviously you don't have to use all of these options. But, the more you use, the more you will be free from surveillance capitalism and techno feudalism.

For experimentation purposes, I would recommend having backup options for each of these. You can always move to a new first choice and relegate the previous selection to be your backup.

And if you have the resources for a second mobile device, please get a Linux phone. It is a market that needs to happen.

Also, please use the pro versions of these apps or make financial contributions to opensource options. Their providers need money just like you do.

So, free yourself from today's techshit and corporate surveillance. Adopt and use the LESS stack to avoid being a techno serf.

And if you are really inspired by your newly won freedom you can even read and live the Techno Anarchist Manifesto. 😈

Cheers and KISS with LESS!

 

 

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