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Comment by purpled_haze | Hacker News Reader

A problem with the domain name is that to mean OS means operating system. Also, hardcore free software folks hate using the term "open-source" for their free code.

But, I hope it does well and will keep an eye on it.

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When I first noticed the headline on the HN wall, I thought it was a show-and-tell for new smart watch software.

OP, for some reason I'm getting verification errors when trying to load the site. My office has some rather aggressive firewall policies, but I might look at the SSL cert.

For what it's worth, I had the same first impression...

I thought it was about ostriches. So I should probably finish my coffee...

If you don't mind sharing the error you encountered (screenshot?) feel free to drop me an email - address in my profile. I just got the SSL via Namecheap a few days back, I haven't had issues with them before, but I'm by no means an expert on certs, and may have set up something wrongly.

Glad to! Sent you an email.

There's nothing wrong with the SSL certificates, except for the fact that it's a 'news' site for open source and not using Let's Encrypt -- and this is by no means a criticism, just something to consider.

I think years of reading http://www.osnews.com/ have lodged OS = operating system into my head too.

Exactly:

  OSS = Open Source Software

  FOSS = Free Open Source Software

  OS = Operating System

What's the difference between OSS and FOSS?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software

osswatch is indeed a better name, OS is like the default name for operating system.

the font is too small under that background color for my taste, maybe I'm too used to hacknews's settings these days.

Thanks for the feedback! Will look into font size, and the name will be reconsidered as well.

Thanks for the feedback! It looks like the name was not optimally chosen based on the feedback in this thread, so I may need to address that. If the site or FB/twitter-feeds gains more regular users than myself I'll definitely look into it.

I like "foss". It's almost universally understood to refer to free software and open source. These two are really the same thing, but just like "cease and desist" or "terms and conditions", a little redundancy doesn't hurt to get the point across.

Yes! FOSSwatch seems to ring really nicely to me as well.

OK thanks for the suggestion - I've gone ahead and registered FOSSwatch.com. Will likely switch, but maybe not tonight.

Some folks like also "FLOSS" term

True, but it's unfortunately a lot less widely recognized.

...and "watch" means a wearable device for keeping track of time.

https://distrowatch.com has been around for a very long time and there's no confusion at all. Ditto marketwatch.com, and probably a host of other sites where "watch" in the name refers to "watching" or following something. I think you're just consciously choosing to be pedantic here.

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