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Comment by arminiusreturns | Hacker News Reader

It's on homebrew, so you might try that. As a linux dude stuck on mac at work it's my go to for installing things.

  brew install pidgin

https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/pidgin

On pidgin, I used to use it and have been considering using it again, but right now I lean more towards WeeChat because I like having the ability to CLI it off a vps but I guess I could proxy my pidgin stuff too which is half of the reason I like doing that. (friends don't let friends irc from home, especially without cloaks!)

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I don't use Homebrew because it embeds spyware. I think we should all probably stop recommending it as a result.

Are you talking about the analytics? Which most package managers have. You can easily disable it: https://docs.brew.sh/Analytics#opting-out

None of the most popular package managers, such as those included in Ubuntu, Debian, or CentOS, include spyware by default. ("opt-out", aka "assume consent even if you don't have it".)

There are things like popcon that you can opt in to, but those are optional ("opt in"), and aren't on by default.

Even just on macOS, neither nixpkgs nor macports will transmit your activities to anyone.

I think your "most" claim is inaccurate.

Analytics aren’t “spyware.”

Remove the tinfoil hat, dude.

Spyware isn't about the name you slap on it ('analytics'). Its about not having permission. That's the whole ball game.

Every. Single. Product.

Everyone. Tracks behaviors to improve the product. It’s table stakes.

Often without a disclaimer!

Welcome to the internet.

Be upset about it if you must but it is not equivalent to “spyware.”

This is entirely false. Debian not only doesn't do this, it patches out such tomfoolery in anything they distribute.

It's a recent trend, but it's nowhere near ubiquitous, and it's still a major violation of consent to exfiltrate a user's data without asking, even if every piece of software in the world did it (as you erroneously claimed).

When software spies on you without permission, there's a name for that type of software.

Pointing out Debian as your counter example is so silly.

Yes, HackerNews community member, but we’re talking about software in aggregate amongst products people out in the world use not just your favorite Linux distros.

Analytics are very common now, carry no malice, and are not spyware.

The term has implications that aren’t satisfied here but hey, it’s HN and YOLO. Everything is spyware everyone should use Debian, eat Arby’s etc

It isn't a fact, because you keep saying that. It's reasonable to ask what constitutes spyware, and categorize analytics either in or out of that category.

In any reasonable definition of spyware (it spies on you to the creator's benefit and not yours) then analytics goes in that category.

Try to give comments the most generous interpretation. That's what silly HackerNews community members agree to in the rules.

Nor are your assertions facts because you keep repeating them.

It appears we are at an impasse.

In the meantime, I and the vast majority of people will carry on using Homebrew without labeling it as loaded with “spyware” - whether you agree with it or not.

It doesn't matter how many folks do it. Its spying on you. Its spyware.

At the very least, they're doing a customer survey without compensation. Even if they have no more malicious intent.

Upset? More like resigned. This is just about calling a spade a spade.

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