Planning to Move Away from Big Tech in 2025

In 2025, to the extent possible, I will move away from major software, hosting, social media, and cloud platforms. My context is that of a developer familiar with Windows, Windows Subsystem for Linux, Visual Studio Code, and Microsoft Office including OneDrive. I will use open source software, local devices, and Proton to replace existing paid software and networked services. I encourage others to do the same, taking greater ownership and responsibility for their systems in favor of ubiquitous convenience.

I know that this transition will not be easy. I have been using Windows and Office specifically for decades, and I am very productive in that environment. Learning new applications, user interfaces, configuration options, and keyboard shortcuts requires commitment. In many ways, Linux simply presents a different set of challenges than Windows.

As I expect that it will take some time to transition from Windows to Linux. Therefore, I will use a secondary machine so that I can use Windows on my primary machine while experimenting with Linux.

If you use Windows but are completely unfamiliar with Linux, you may want to experiment with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) using Windows Terminal, specifically the bash shell. You can also migrate from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice and try to move away from services such as OneDrive and make other changes before you migrate to Linux.

Unlike Windows, where only Microsoft builds the software, there are several distributions of Linux. In WSL, I used Ubuntu, but it appears possible to use Fedora. After using Ubuntu both under Windows Subsystem for Linux and as a standalone operating system on Laptops, based on conversations with more experienced users, I decided to try the Fedora Linux distribution.

Here is how I plan to replace my specific uses:

• Windows => Linux (Fedora)
• Edge => LibreWolf
• Office => LibreOffice
• Outlook => Proton
• OneDrive => Proton Drive
• VS Code => VSCodium
• Gmail/Outlook/Calendar => Proton
• LinkedIn => Slashdot
• Apple => ?

For additional privacy, security, and reliability, performance, and convenience, I will add:

• Proton VPN
• Proton Password Management
• Local hard disks for data primacy, especially media, with backups to Proton Drive

At least for now, I cannot seem to avoid the following, but I will work to isolate and limit their use:

• LinkedIn
• Github
• Gmail for authentication, email, and calendar
• Google/zoome/etc. webmeetings
• Apple for occasional authentication
• Windows 10 and related software for lingering tasks
• Microsoft Authenticator for Github authentication
• GoDaddy (DNS, Mail Hosting – an unfortunate legacy)
• WordPress (blogs, another unfortunate legacy)

Next

• https://wslguy.net/2025/03/14/preparing-to-install-linux/
• https://wslguy.net/2025/03/14/installing-fedora-linux/
• https://wslguy.net/2025/03/14/quick-fedora-orientation/
• https://wslguy.net/2025/03/15/use-rclone-to-mount-proton-drive-in-fedora-linux/
• https://wslguy.net/2025/03/15/configure-fedora-linux-bash-shell-and-terminal/