When will the Windows desktop client open source be released to the PIA open source site?

JackOJackO
edited July 2019 in Feedback

Its does not answer the question. that's 4 to 5 months ago, and the things outlined in that delaying the release of the open source have already come to pass and are the past so those delay factors are no longer valid as outlined in that post.

And here > https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/helpdesk/news > dated Feb 19 2019 it says "We are extremely happy and excited to release the source code for our Desktop client in alignment with our commitment to open source all our projects." yet no desktop windows client on the open source site despite the new announcement implying it would be there.

And in this article > https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/fight-control-andrew-lee-open-sourcing-pia > Andrew Lee goes on and on about PIA open source and how ...

"open-sourcing is vital given that, in order to protect one's privacy, it is important for people to know exactly what it is their software is doing. Having the source code available makes this possible. I also believe that it further enhances security, in addition to our third-party audits that we already performed, since more eyes will be able to review the code"

I see others have asked about this also at various times. Implied in the statement by Andrew Lee is that our privacy is detrimentally affected  using PIA desktop client for windows because there is no open source Windows desktop client.

So, an update for when the Windows desktop client open source will be available on the PIA open source site (https://pia-foss.github.io/) would be nice.

Comments

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]
    I do wish I could have an update for you as well. The plan is still going to be open source, but the client being under heavy development at this time, we do feel it is not ready yet.
  • JackOJackO
    edited August 2019
    well PIAThomas, its been under "development" for a while.

    PIA has released a few different versions of the newer windows desktop client so far and has been taking money for it (via subscription), so that's not being under "development" code but rather commercial retail production code release. So PIA has been selling us a desktop client that is still "under development" and is not commercial retail production code, yet, does not advertise that's what people are getting when they buy a subscription for which they use the client software? Then since its not really commercial retail production code release like PIA has portrayed by selling with their subscriptions I think we need a nice discount because this is not a retail product yet because its still "under development". But instead we got a price increase, and more "under development", and more poor (compared to the past) and less (compared to the past) support interaction, and more canned scripted answers, and more of the broken promise concerning open source.

    I remember years ago when the open source thing came up. PIA at that time said they were going to release open source and eventually PIA did establish an open source thing at github. But while there is some open source there its not what was expected or what was promised years ago and its grossly incomplete and overall kinda shoddy/sloppy. If whats there reflects the code you are distributing in your software then you guys need to hire some one else to write code for you. Now, the same excuse that was given years ago, "under development", is still being given. For cripes sake, at least get a new script 'cause these canned answers are getting old.

    And what about the old windows desktop client? PIA said back then they would release open source yet never did. Now the same old "under development" excuse with the new desktop client.

    I don't think PIA or Andrew Lee ever really intended to release open source in a true sense. I think Andrew Lee and PIA was/is full of crap about the commitment to open source. I think this many years now standard answer of "under development" is disingenuous.

    If you're a company selling it in a service subscription with a software package product then its commercial retail production code and not development code. Development is complete, "under development" excuse no longer applies. PIA, keep your promise and release the open source code for the windows desktop client.

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