The theory is simple: instead of buying a household item or a piece of clothing or some equipment you might use once or twice, you take it out and return it.

  • realbadat@programming.dev
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    6 months ago

    Tool libraries are libraries, not rentals.

    So no, they aren’t saying renting is the same thing as a library. They are saying libraries offering more services are a great way for you to save money by not buying a tool you only need once or for a day here and there over the years.

    • fruitycoder@sh.itjust.works
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      6 months ago

      I agree with the first part, but they are using the terms interchangeable of renting and borrowing. Talking about renting and subscription in the same vain as borrowing.

      I just don’t want the very cool idea of a library economy to be conflated with the “you own nothing” subscription/rent everything economy.

      They both have similarities but the actual ownership matters IMHO or else you get rent seeking/enshittification.

      • realbadat@programming.dev
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        6 months ago

        That’s fair, I’d agree the article does a terrible job of differentiating, and a company calling itself a library in it’s name doesn’t make it a library, just a rental service playing pretend for profit.