Oddbean

Anyone can build FOSS software as well. The argument agains fountain completely ignores that both the nostr integration and the payments are entirely interoperable with open standards. It’s not as simple as calling it a closed source bank. It’s a closed-source, custodial wallet for an open protocol.

so closed source wallets are also cool because they are on an open protocol? do you know what point you are making? when you stream sats from fountain you are simply directing the bank to send them. they check your balance, take their transaction fee and send the sats from wherever. they could do exactly the same thing except FOSS. but they want to leverage state violence to protect their business. FOSS is important because it protects users and encourages the free development of ideas. among other reasons. off the top of my head I can't think of any closed source software I have installed anywhere.

I agree FOSS is important and I generally prefer to support FOSS over closed source when possible. I also believe that there are companies who want to protect their secrets (and livelihood), but still contribute value to society via innovation that is eventually replicated by open source. Are you going as far to say that all IP protection is immoral? There is something somewhat dark about that extreme as well