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What are some software red flags? (lemmy.fedioasis.cc)
submitted 4 months ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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Have you ever found a GitHub project or anything that seemed nice and tempting to install until you dug a bit deeper?

What are some red flags that should detur anyone from installing and running something?

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[–] 1 point 4 months ago (5 children)

it's not the impact to the user having dozens of choices.

it's the impact to the developer to having to maintain the packages for dozens of package repo admins that have each their own special requirements for packages that have to be followed. it's a huge pita that most companies don't even bother with and just run their own package repo.

IMO the user isn't blameless when using an install script. anyone who just blindly runs arbitrary code without reading it is a fool asking to be attacked.

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  • [–] 2 points 4 months ago (4 children)

    Exactly, it's a shift in responsibilities from the developers of a thing to the users of that thing.

    As a grunt at work and a mid-tier "money haver" at best, I'm tired of having everything shift its costs onto me and it's a red flag that prevents me from installing and running a software package.

    Everything around nowadays does this shift if they can get away with it.

    I have to set limits on what I tolerate to achieve what gain or the world will leave me dead with a giant tire mark across my chest.

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  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago (3 children)

    as a foss dev, your problems aren't my problems.

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  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago* (2 children)

    As a sporadic foss contributor and foss advocate, I ain't even installing your shit if the only install option is curl pipe to shell.

    And I also do think it's a red flag exactly like the original poster was looking for.

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  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago (1 child)

    if you're dumb enough to pipe curl to bash you deserve everything you get.

    rtfs

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  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago*

    I hate Windows partially because you have to download a bunch of random executables. Making that same security hole into a one liner in bash and making that the only install supported is not an improvement in any way.

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