Terence EdenFeb 16, 2025

Young folks: Please can we contribute using modern git-based workflow rather than email?
Old farts: No.

👶: OK, but can we at least use modern memory-safe languages?
👴: Also no.

👶: Perhaps we could modernise our language & attitudes to be more inclusive?
👴: LOL! No.

👶: Could we at least consider addressing some long-standing community issues?
👴: What part of "no" are you having trouble understanding?

⏳ ⌛

👴: Why aren't there any new people contributing to our project? Truly a mystery. 🙃

Show threadJonathan CorbetFeb 16, 2025
@Edent So this appears to be a lightly disguised criticism of the kernel project ... the project that is working hard to incorporate Rust into a 30+-year-old code base, is (slowly) developing new contribution tools, and sees 2-300 new contributors in each and every one of its nine-week release cycles.

There are plenty of problems in kernelland, but they will not be improved by a distorted view like this.
Show threadTerence Eden

@corbet I wasn't thinking of Linux when I wrote that - but I do find it amusing how many people have taken it as being about that.

Lots of projects are withering on the vine doe to their crappy environments, processes, and attitudes.

I think greybeards (like me) should plan for getting out of the way in *every* project.

Feb 16, 2025 at 4:26pmTusky
Show threadJonathan CorbetFeb 16, 2025
@Edent Given the number of people screaming at the kernel project from the sidelines at the moment, it's a pretty natural conclusion to come to.

(And, as I said, we do indeed have our problems!)