Re: General advice beyond Org

["S. Champailler" <schampaillerspam@skynet.be>]

Be aware that free software is politcally loaded. It's just not a matter of having the right or best tools, it' sometimes a question of ideal, that is something that is *very* hard to negociate about...

Moreover, if the people you work with use, say Word, it's pretty tough to bring in, say Latex. Because you'll disrupt the organisation of the team.

In the case of emacs, though, things are easier : it's made to work with text files and that is quite compatible with any other proprietary software. You won't affect anybody's job with that.

Here at my job, I don't control any of the software I use (I have to use Oracle, Windows, Skype), but I can choose the software that *I* use for myself. So it's a balance.

Changing other's mind, or methods is super hard, what you experience is just the normal. It'd be nice to know why your advisor rejects free software equivalents (lack of features ? fear of legal battles ? organisational ...)

Stefan


> Le 18 mai 2018 à 02:28, edgar@openmail.cc a écrit :
> 
> 
> Hello,
> 
> _I_ need help. I am in graduate school, and I keep having issues with my 
> advisor for my strong inclination to use free software. I am obviously 
> not in position to refuse, but she dislikes to have discussions about 
> it. She pays a stipend to me every month, and my tuition is waved.
> 
> Is anyone here aware of a place where they do computational human 
> biomechanics, mechanics, materials or finite elements where I could 
> interact with free software? (having github, LaTeX, Python, etc.; avoid 
> Micro$oft products, Matlab, Mathematica, etc.). Is there no place where 
> one can simply use free software on a daily basis?
> 
> It seems from her comments that I am, otherwise, a good researcher. She 
> is a nice person, but I fear that this may become an issue in the future 
> for me (whether with her or other people).
> 
> As a student or junior faculty, how do you go about this? Do you just 
> nod and wave your freedom good bye?
> 
> Thank you! (I will post this in other fora as well; don't let that to 
> discourage you from answering, please).
> 
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