Ask HN: What FOSS do you wish existed that currently doesn't?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33162452

by CodeSgt • 4 years ago

5 11 4 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

pacerier• 4 years ago

news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33132583

eimrine• 4 years ago

Windows 7.

jqpabc1234• 4 years ago

Pick any specialized business app.

It doesn't really need to be all that specialized --- for example, US payroll. Every business with employees needs this. The few FOSS options that exist are mostly focused on countries outside the USA where things are much simpler.

US payroll is complicated by the fact there are 50 different state tax authorities and a multitude of private industry deductions and requirements --- 401K contributions, court ordered garnishments, time off accruals, etc.,etc.. Plus keep in mind that all this is subject to change on an on-going basis and failure to keep up with the changes can incur significant penalties and interest.

Once you start looking into it, you come to realize and appreciate how/why business is unlikely to ever be fully served by FOSS. Proprietary/for profit software will always play a significant role.

smoldesu3• 4 years ago

Those are services, not software. They might have software frontends (which could easily be replaced by FOSS), but their actual value proposition is the fact that they hire hundreds of people to do human-people-stuff.

jqpabc1234• 4 years ago

Those are services, not software.

Most US businesses do their payroll in-house --- using proprietary software --- mainly due to cost reasons.

Companies that outsource payroll to a service provider are actually a minority --- mostly larger businesses.

https://www.civica.com/en-us/insights/managed-payroll-or-in-...

somuchjob2• 4 years ago

Professional level CAD software.

somuchjob2• 4 years ago

Also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33161167

Ask HN: What FOSS do you wish existed that currently doesn't?

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