It already is.

Web Servers: Apache, nginx are far more popular then Microsofts Internet Information System.

Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB are all more popular then Oracle Database or IBMs DB2

OS: Linux distros are more popular then MS Windows. Microsoft Azure runs more Linux virtual machines than Windows

My university actually hosts NextCloud for faculty and students to use. It's nice to see!

I want you all to hear about this actually good website: alternativeto.net

Type in the software that you want to replace.

Then toggle filters for your OS and if you want Properitery (paid or freemium) or FOSS.

Whole thing is based on community votings.

You can also vote down and describe with text a feedback, why a listed software doesnt really make a alternative to your software.

Or why it is a good alternative.

Sorry for bad formatting. I am writing this on mobile.

I always suggest FOSS options when they apply!

Godot might with unity going nuts

Blender moment

Sadly it will never. The average consumer does not care to do their own research, and will always fall for options with a marketing budget, even when FOSS options are similar or better quality. Now consider that often times (not always), FOSS is not up to the same quality.

Disclaimer: I always use FOSS when I can, even when lower quality.

Glad seeing Blender getting picked up more

It's pretty heart warming when you see some organization you didn't suspect already adopts FOSS alternatives of things. I think there's value is explicitly popularizing when this happens: they will get more popular through emulation, as humans are social beings. If one piece of software is considered to be some edgy stuff that nobody uses and works poorly then few people will use it. Otherwise, the "if relevant organization / person I follow XYZ used this solution then I should give it a go" thought pattern takes place. Worked with Krita.

FOSS:

I like FOSS not being mainstream because it takes a special type of personality to break with standard convention and make the extra effort to learn about FOSS. This weeds out a lot of people that would otherwise turn FOSS into Facebook or Instagram. Remember how Reddit used to be ~12 years ago? Look at it now. While it's not entirely mainstream, the general population has at least heard about it, and it's slowly become the crap it is today.

I'm happy Lemmy isn't mainstream. We do miss out on some benefits of dependent on a large user base, such as specific niches, but at the same time, we have a respectful community that mostly adheres to solid values and ethical standards. People here are building a supportive community.

That wasn't my experience with Reddit for about the last 5 years. It became an idea popularity contest, where the same repeated joke was the top comment and dissenting voices were buried under a sea of downvotes. Discussions were about who was right rather than what idea made better sense for the topic. While Lemmy still has remnants of that stemming from the recent migration, but it is nowhere near to Reddit's level.

Coincidentally, I was already on my way out of Reddit when the API fiasco happened and got lucky enough to hear about Lemmy before I completely left. I'm never going back to Reddit, just like I'm never going back to FB and IG. Hopefully, if Lemmy starts becoming mainstream and the culture changes, the ability for instances to defederate will be helpful at maintaining the community-feel of this place.

Put in the billions of man hours to make them better then the paid alternatives.

Being good enough is hard work and slow going.

Being better than paid alternative is just a waiting game. At a moment's notice, they can decide they'll keep the money and give people nothing... and that's when people realize they'd rather have the opposite.

Philosophy doesn't move the needle. But it's hard to compete with free. Especially if you expect people to pay serious money just to be told "no."

Do it already