Communities, governments and businesses face a choice that carries real economic weight as Microsoft winds down support for its Windows 10 operating system.

This choice relates to centuries-old economic realities.

The 18th-century economist Richard Cantillon noted that when new money enters the economy, it benefits those closest to the source first while others face rising costs. Today, purchases of proprietary software echo this theory in a similar way. Vendors and shareholders profit early, while taxpayers and communities shoulder the burden of recurring fees, upgrade costs, and discarded hardware.

Switching to Linux distributions like openSUSE reverses this imbalance. Instead of sending public money to distant corporations, funds stay local and support IT jobs for regional developers and entrepreneurs. The use of open-source Linux distributions also extends the life of existing hardware and reduces e-waste, which proprietary models can exploit for unnecessary spending.

Free Software Foundation Europe’s Public Money, Public Code campaign makes the case clearly; open code ensures transparency, prevents lock-in, and strengthens digital sovereignty. Switzerland has already enshrined this principle in law through its Federal Law on the Use of Electronic Means for the Fulfilment of Governmental Tasks (EMBAG), which reflects its federalist tradition of governance. Other countries are pursuing similar measures and it signals a clear shift toward legally ensuring openness and local control in publicly funded software.

The approaching end of Windows 10 is a clear chance for people and administrations to make smarter choices for their communities. For individuals, that means installing a Linux distribution instead of enriching distant shareholders. For governments, it means avoiding dependence on foreign corporations and preserving digital sovereignty by keeping control of critical infrastructure. Digital sovereignty increasingly depends on open-source software, yet open hardware will soon play a role in securing digital independence. The Endof10 movement backed by several Linux communities has events for those willing to install open-source distributions like openSUSE and others. The great migration is upon us and switching to Linux it’s an economic and cultural decision that will keep money, skills, and control within communities rather than flowing to global software monopolies.

This is part of a series on End of 10 articles where we offer reasons to transition from Windows to Linux.

DirtyGlassEye hat dem Pool ein Foto hinzugefügt:

"Dokotsu" loosely translates to "cave" or "grotto". This angle not only looks like all the above, but also a tad tacky. It looks like the filmset of a cheesy C list movie. The fact there was even a colored light in the water is a bit funny. Other context clues suggest it's somehow still a place for spiritual enlightenment (the ladles on the left). So is this for show, is it a relic, or is it an offering?
Believe it or not, this was in the same room as the candle shot a couple weeks ago. This room had so many objects for so many usable compositions. I had this cut out of the frame on purpose so it could be it's own shot. It deserves it. The light coming from above, shining on the aging dragon fountain. I thought this artifact would have some kind of religious significance but my research came up empty, at least for it's location here at Sandanbeki. Perhaps it was stashed here by the pirates of the Heian period.
The light shining on the dragon left me with an obvious subject to work with. The rock walls had a clarity buff to make the terrain more believable but I put it in the shadows. Put a motion blur on the falling water and gave a saturation boost on the dragon head and the ladles. As a final challenge I enlarged the head, knowing the subject had to be bigger to attract more attention.
This place packs a punch that surpasses quite a few American caves ( repeat, a few). For being a cavern with essentially only 3 rooms there were so many different things to shoot from many different spots. Again, this was in the same room as the other treasures and lanterns, and somehow I managed to get the light all on this fountain and nowhere else.