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:

One of the primary shots I thought about getting was a skyline shot in Tokyo considering it had quite a few recognizable skyscraper landmarks. But getting a Tokyo skyline photo is not remotely as simple as a New York or LA skyline. First off, there's size: Tokyo's bigger then both prior mentioned cities combined. As a consequence of that there's complication number two: said skyscrapers are spread out over the area, and there are few vantage points. So I had to get high. The Tokyo Skytree was my first option, then it turned into Shibuya Sky, before eventually I just settled on free options. The Toho Cinema Tower observation deck proved more fruitful than the Tokyo Met building (which conveniently is on the direct other side of the buildings you see here).
So while here in the observation deck I had Shinjuku to work with as my coveted skyline. Oddly enough, viewing at this angle looked like I was viewing the classes of society all in one frame. The trains and dry grass at the bottom, the regular tightly bound apartment complexes and shops in the middle (and I guess the cemetery on the right), and the large business towers at the top like the Cocoon Tower, and whatever that other white tower is. It looks like the Atari logo it was such an eyecatcher. (I'm not trying to send a wrong message with this shot by the way, I do wholeheartedly endorse capitalism)
I took a lot of liberties in this one. The two trains are from separate frames, the sky is darker (in my ever growing battle against the accursed plain white sky). I made a couple of building faces darker, but not the lights coming out of em. This is definitely an overcrowded shot and could fall under many umbrella terms in photography, and you can see people below so maybe I can pass this as a street shot as well but only time will tell.