GitHub Is Still Free — But You're the Product
GitHub remains free and widely used, but its acquisition by Microsoft has shifted its role from open-source steward to data-harvesting platform. As GitHub integrates more tightly with tools like Copilot and Azure, developers face growing risks of lock-in, surveillance, and platform dependency. This article explores the tradeoffs of “free” tools, the importance of digital sovereignty, and emerging alternatives like Cloudflare Pages, Nostr, and self-hosted Git platforms. It’s not just about cost—it’s about control.
