Tools that Just Work™ …until they don’t

As a former Apple guy, it pains me a bit to say this, but I’m coming to believe that the whole “It Just Works” thing is a temporary illusion.

Oh, it can be achieved! But the real trick lies in keeping it. This came to mind while I was watching a video about one of Bambu Labs’ very impressive-looking Apple-style “It Just Works” 3D printers, and felt myself drawing a parallel between the world of 3D printing and our more familiar KDE world.

As I mentioned recently, my first real introduction to the world of free software was 15 years ago with 3D printers, back when the field was dominated by RepRap hackers designing open hardware and software. And last year, I bought a new printer for the first time in over a decade. After drooling over a bunch of very cool Vorons, I eventually settled on a Prusa Mk4 instead of a different Bambu printer that looked very impressive at the time: printing faster, having an enclosed chamber and smoother wireless functionality, being cheaper, and looking prettier.

But the Prusa felt like KDE: simple by default, but powerful when needed. Big friendly community. Built by a company led by one of the early RepRap hardware hackers. Buying it was investing in the people helping to keep their part of the industry open, rather than private. No spyware, no lock-in, no phone app or internet connection needed. Can’t be bricked if the company goes out of business. Open, hackable, humane, trustworthy.

I’m making this sound like the decision was some sort of ideological compromise, but the Prusa Mk4 is also excellent. It’s as good or better in many ways, almost as much in others, and its UX still pretty polished. Maybe it’s not Apple polished, but it’s very easy to use and produces great prints. I did have to invest a bit more time and money into the Prusa upfront, but now I have a tool I can truly rely on, not because it’s got a seamless auto-updating cloud-based AI-enabled UI, but because it doesn’t.

And since then, both companies went in exactly in the directions I expected: Prusa released a new version of their printer that’s cheaper and better, plus a $100 kit for existing owners so they don’t have to buy a whole new thing… while Bambu released a firmware upgrade that lets them control how your Bambu printer can be used.

It Just Works… until it doesn’t.

I’m glad I went with the Prusa, the same way we’re all glad we went with KDE over Apple or Microsoft. In KDE we know this well, so it’s up to us to spread the message to everyone else: resist the lure of “easier now, screwed later.” This is where the big commercial offerings start to fail: anything proprietary and closed source that Just Works may simply stop working at any time. You’ll invest in it, and it’ll work out great for a while, but then start to worsen, break, or exploit you.

Even as we invest in making our software easier to use, we need to level the playing field by advertising our advantages in ownership, privacy, personalization, and freedom. Our software is trustworthy because it can’t be taken away by us or anyone else; you’ll be able to use it over the long term, developing skills and efficiencies over time. Investing in KDE is investing in yourself, rather than someone else’s bottom line.