nixCraft 🐧

AI assistance when contributing to the Linux kernel https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/Documentation/process/coding-assistants.rst

Look like Linux foundation and big tech members like Microsoft, Google and others who are behind the Linux foundation drafted it. Basically it says that you can use AI/LLM, but you take full responsibility for your commits to the kernel and code must satisfy the license GPL-2.0-only. So more slop is allowed to add directly to the Linux kernel.

linux/Documentation/process/coding-assistants.rst at master · torvalds/linux

Linux kernel source tree. Contribute to torvalds/linux development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub
Apr 11 at 9:32amWeb
Show threadLillyLyle/Count MelancholiaApr 11
@nixCraft Was not expecting that!
Show threadFreevoltApr 11
@nixCraft At the very least, they added a clause of a human reviewer, although not having any slop would be better.
Show threadDrew has moved to ieji.deApr 11
@nixCraft Damn. That's really shit.
Show threadBlubApr 11
@nixCraft doesn't requiring gpl-2-only licensing effectively rule out all the current models?
Show threadDieuApr 11
@nixCraft how can you put it under a licence if you don't have the copyright
Show threadChristina JenniferApr 11
@nixCraft Generated code is by definition not source, so it cannot satisfy the GPL
Show threadTim Ward ⭐🇪🇺🔶 #FBPEApr 11

@criffer @nixCraft Does that depend on whether you can round-trip it?

Can you

* generate some code from a prompt
* fix the code manually
* tell the AI to adjust the prompt to generate the manually fixed version of the code next time?

Show threadMike SpoonerApr 11
@TimWardCam @criffer @nixCraft Perhaps, but then the word "generate" might be doing a lot of extra lifting?
Show threadbazkie 👩🏼‍💻 bitplanes 🎵Apr 11
@nixCraft deeply disappointing.
Show threadGregórioApr 11
@nixCraft it’s depressing, really. We’re fucked.
Show threaddagApr 11
@nixCraft of course. Everything else would not make sense. The responsibility of the Linux kernel maintainers is not culture war. Also how would you prevent it? If someone would use an LLM to create a structure of a class, find a bug, fix a bug, write a function, write a comment - how would you know? Especially if its not only AI but combined with a developer? Would you also not accept source code because the IDE did some auto complete?
Show threaddagApr 11
@nixCraft You can discuss where LLMs make sense and where not, but they are here to stay. Acceptance and adapting to the situation is more helpful then #hopium - and rules that demand #HITL are the right choice! Even if code reviewed happen AI assisted, especially for critical software like kernel modules, someone with a brain should be the one to take responsibility and approve the pull request.
Show threadþēodrīċ, norþes ecghlāfordApr 11
@dag hey now buddy, that sounds an awful lot like a rational, pragmatic position. We don't much care for those around here.
Show threadfunbaker; Je suis AntifaApr 11
@nixCraft hey @torvalds we dont want slop in the kernel
Show threadPeter B.Apr 11
@nixCraft so keeping backup "pre-AI" copies of my favorite distro (and its repos) seems to make more and more sense...
Show thread𝔱.𝔥.Apr 11
@nixCraft ffs...
Show threadrichintheflowApr 11
@nixCraft Well well well... Let's see what will happen. Hopefully we still have BSD distros free from that AI slop
Show threadZeka ParıltısıApr 11
@nixCraft Cartels like ms and alphabet should be kept away from the Linux Foundation. They will destroy everything for their own interests. Community donations can keep free software alive
Show threadSkate CloudApr 11
@nixCraft much as i hate AI, i have to admit a very, very vast majority of people are tripping over themselves trying to integrate it as deeply into their lives as possible. Such people will continue to attempt to bombard open source software with slop PR’s regardless of whether the project accepts those or not. This method of requiring human review and clear attribution for AI generated content is the only way to make sure people clearly mention when they used AI. If the kernel outright rejects AI slop, the AI-bros will just stop attributing generated slop. So maintainers won’t know if submitted code is slop or not without thorough manual review and maybe not even then.
Show threadserialsyncApr 11
@nixCraft 😑🫤🤢
Show threadgegeApr 15
@nixCraft is everyone forgetting Torvalds himself has talked about LLMs being an useful tool? this is not surprising at all
Show threadMuhammadFree🇵🇸Apr 19
@nixCraft Can't we all switch to another kernel? A fork or something compatible?