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Malleable software: Restoring user agency in a world of locked-down apps (2025)

162 points · 75 comments · evakhoury

  1. piterrro · · focus · HN ↗
    This whole article is true and to the point but... reality is: most people still don't build their own setups: work, home - most of them follow a sh*tty software or decorate with Ikea. I think this applies only to a small group of users how will be willing to go extra mile and prompt their ideal interface for whatever they need to do.
    1. matheusmoreira · · focus · HN ↗
      The realization that "normal" people don't care and will never care was the saddest for me. There are so few people who care. We're essentially irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. We have no leverage.
      1. popalchemist · · focus · HN ↗
        What exactly are you sad about? You're only just realizing highly technical knowledge makes your opinions a minority?

        DUH.

        Guess what? That same knowledge gives you agency. With LLMs now, even more so. Want something? Build it (or have claude build it)

        Why are you being a defeatist over something you can't control that was always the case? Nothing has changed.

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