Just saw someone promoting an open source coding LLM as an alternative to Claude code. I did some digging, and the model they were promoting requires a minimum of 2 80GB A100s and recommends 4 80GB A100s. That’s a setup cost of $32k-$64k.

We really need an alternative term besides “open source” for things which individuals can actually change, run, and use themselves. Smart TVs whose code can’t be manually deployed onto the device don’t count. LLMs which cost the average American yearly salary don’t count. Google browsers which don’t compile without closed source binaries don’t count.

I want software that is malleable in practice, not a checkbox on some theoretical list. If individuals aren’t empowered to control their digital destinies then what’s even the point?