@SimpleOpposite
How free is Lichess?
in 2023
Intro
Lichess founded as libre chess server with GNU General Public License and it still keeps that license.
Since 2010 the internet has changed and how free is Lichess today?
I will measure Lichess primary with Free Software Foundation (FSF) criteries,
but also add some external rules, because lichess isn't only software, but also a popular website.
Too much liberty
The more libre is something, the more unfee it seems. This works in other side too.
Regimes which claim to be the most free are particullary dictatorships.
That makes measurment harder, while the word `free` become less clear.
GNU Philosophy
https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
the users have the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software
It's definitely true for Lichess that you can clone this software and run freely.
The more intresting thing happenns when you want to study and improve lichess.
The source code on Github (https://github.com/lichess-org)
is separated in many repositories without a clear navigation or documentation.
You may notice, up to 90% contributions made by Thibault Duplessis itself.
This might be caused by code complexity or problems with setting a developer environment.
*Run
Yes, you can freely use Lichess website. Build lichess from a source is a bit harder but it's explained.
*Copy
Yes it's possible to copy lichess. I don't really know a good website on Lichess engine, but doesn't matter.
*Distribute
Here I can't find a problem.
*Study
Well this might be a bit harder. I can't find enough documentation for the project,
it seems they publish obfuscated scripts along with a normal files.
*Improve
Nobody explains how contribute to Lichess, nobody provide such kind of support,
unless you want to report a bug. Correct me whether I'm not right here.
My personal study
GNU physolosphy does not cover websites
because of ignoring such thing as complex JavaScript solutions.
https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html
I generally agree with GNU, however
I don't think we should ignore technology which makes a world-wide industry.
Above the FSF criteries I think a good website shall
*Be a place of collaboration
Web apps are not such good, because never better than the normally installed apps.
By collaboration I mean discuss something, share something (and provide abbility to download it) and so on.
*Be open source and free-licenced
Because it's a basic rule of sofware freedom.
Open source here assumes no obfuscation and other problems to read the source code.
*Be ads-free
This does not mean websites shall not use advertisements at all.
The only thing matter it should not be required to continue with website.
*Be cookie-free
Website shall use as less privacy conditions as possible.
No required Cookies, Location, Notification and so on.
*Be anonymous well
Non-existence of Authentication is a priceless thing.
Anonymous users shall be at least equal to registred, but the better is no registration process.
Accourding to those criteries (which I plan to continue promote)
The issues I noticed at Lichess.org
Code obfuscation
Lichess uses obfuscated (compiled) JavaScript code. It makes difficult front-end debug as well as contributing. No JavaScript nor obfuscation permitted by FSF. Lichess formally does not use JS, but I can't find pointer for source files as well as can't find someone who knows where to find it.
Privacy problem
Lichess uses a part of Cookies technology (localStorage) but nowhere was said about. Futhermore, Lichess will not work without access to your computer storage.
Freedom of choise
Lichess lets you to choose a nickname or play anonymously. That's great.
However anonymous players are not able to play rated games, publish posts and enter the tournments.
Here comes the next problem: lichess allows only have no more than 2-3 accounts and you can't easily change existing username. Along with requirement of Email those decisions are not clear for me;
Censorship
Lichess actively uses censorship not only in case of cheaters, but also closes accounts for other violetions, such as not chess-related blogs and agressive comments. It seems nobody takes responsibillity of those decisions.
Outro
I'm not hater. I like Lichess as a unique free chess server.
It just seems to me that lichess have too much privacy & anonymity issues
to honestly claim to be 100% libre and free. Whether it is really libre, can the problems be fixed <3
