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Pop!_OS Lead: Linux Developers are “Patronizing Pedantic Megalomaniacs”
System76’s Principal Engineer doesn’t “even try to contribute to the Linux kernel anymore.”
August 29, 2024
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The Principal Engineer of System 76 (and the lead developer of System 76's Pop!_OS Linux distribution) has declared the Linux kernel is run by "patronizing pedantic megalomaniacs" and that he doesn't "even try to contribute to the Linux kernel anymore."

While, at first glance, these statements read like yet another round of "Open Source Drama" -- the Open Source world and "Drama" certainly go hand in hand -- the fact that the lead maintainer of one of the most prominent Linux distributions is refusing to have any involvement with the Linux kernel itself... is absolutely fascinating.

And this all seems to stem... from Rust.

Seriously.

Rust & Linux Conflict

Yesterday (August 28th), Wedson Filho (a developer working on migrating some Linux code to Rust) sent the following email to the Linux Kernel mailing list:

 

 

"I am retiring from the project.  After almost 4 years, I find myself lacking the energy and enthusiasm I once had to respond to some of the nontechnical nonsense, so it's best to leave it up to those who still have it in them."

As an example of the reason he is retiring from the "Rust for Linux" project, Wedson included a clip of a YouTube recording from the Q & A portion of a presentation on Linux Filestyems at Linux Foundation  event.

 

 

During that presentation, it was suggested that developers of Linux File System support (currently in C) needed to do significant work to accomodate developers who wanted to migrate Linux File System support to the Rust programming language.

One of the audience members disagreed with that -- saying "you're trying to convince everyone to switch over to the religion" of Rust.  Which he followed up by saying, "that ain't gonna happen".

The discussion went back and forth for a few moments and then the presentation moved on.

In short: Developers working on existing Linux kernel functionality (in C), want to continue working on their code.  Rust developers want them to either port the existing code to Rust, or spend time helping others to port it to Rust.

This, by itself, is an interesting debate as it could have rather sweeping ramifications to the Linux kernel (and related code).  But then something truly strange happened...

Enter: System76 & Pop!_OS

That's when Jeremy Soller, the Principal Engineer of System76 (a laptop and desktop PC company focused on shipping computers with Linux, specifically with their in-house developed Pop!_OS distribution), chimed in with his thoughts over on X.

 

 

"This kind of treatment is exactly why I started Redox OS from scratch and written primarily in Rust.  There is a lot of resistance to even minor beneficial change in Linux and related projects.  I don't even try to contribute to the Linux kernel anymore."

 

It's that last line that caught my eye.  "I don't even try to contribute to the Linux kernel anymore."

The lead of software engineering at a company which ships Linux hardware... refuses to work with the Linux kernel?

How utterly peculiar.  This would seem to be a massive problem (certainly an inconvenience) for System76.

But then Jeremy Soller continues... by directly, personally attacking Linux kernel developers (and, seemingly, Linus Torvalds and the rest of the Linux kernel maintainers).

 

 

"There are projects where you will inevitably have to get your changes past patronizing pedantic megalomaniacs and while the Linux kernel is not only developed by this personality type it is overwhelmingly controlled by it."

 

Patronizing pedantic megalomaniacs.

Not exactly mincing words.

Putting aside wether the System76 lead is right or wrong about any of that... it would seem to be a bizarre business strategy to directly attack and insult the people building the software which your own product relies upon.  Especially when you refuse to work on that same software.

Again, here's what we are seeing:

  • System76 ships an OS (Pop!_OS) with the Linux kernel.
  • System76 ships hardware with the Linux kernel.
  • System76 leadership refuses to work on the Linux kernel.
  • System76 leadership insults the people who do work on the Linux kernel (including the leadership of Linux).
  • That conflict appears to be originating from Rust advocates unhappy when C programmers refuse to work on Rust.

While the Open Source and Linux world is certainly no stranger to drama and conflict... this goes beyond mere "drama" and into the realm of having a significant impact on the business of System76 (both in terms of engineering and public perception).

Likewise, what does this mean for the Pop!_OS Linux distribution?  If the lead on that project (funded and run by System76) refuses to work on Linux -- and personally insults Linux kernel leadership -- what impact will that have on that particular distribution?

And all of this appears to be rooted in an anger that Rust developers have towards C programmers working on the Linux kernel.

An anger so strong... engineering leadership at System76 is willing to significantly harm his company over.

Utterly bizarre.

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"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

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"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

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Reply here with any question you like — tech industry news, computer history… or anything else good and nerdy.

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December 26, 2024
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December 26, 2024
15 hours left to grab a Lunduke Journal Lifetime Sub

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Want to help push us over 100% -- and keep truly independent Tech Journalism alive and rocking?  You can grab a discounted Lifetime Subscription until midnight tonight (Thursday, Dec 26th).

Those Lunduke Journal Lifetime Sub Details

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All the details below. Or pick up a standard monthly / yearly subscription (via whatever subscription platform you prefer).  Everything goes directly towards that January goal — and keeping The Lunduke Journal confidently operating well into the future!

The Famous Lifetime Subscription via Locals

The "World Famous Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription" is exactly what it sounds like. Pay once and get full access to The Lunduke Journal (with all the perks of subscription on Locals). For life.

Plus: They make a great, nerdy gift.

New Lifetime Subscriptions are available, for $200, from now through December 26th. Then this option goes "back into the vault".

Here's how to grab one of these coveted bad boys for yourself:

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December 24, 2024
No shows Dec 24th, 25th. Lifetime subs available through 26th.

A massive Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone!

This year the start of Hanukkah lines up nicely with Christmas (starting on sundown, Christmas Day) -- so I'm taking off the 24th and 25th (in honor of Christmas -- and to prepare of Hanukkah).  Regular Lunduke Journal Shenanigans (tm) will resume on Thursday, December 26th.

I love the years when Hanukkah and Christmas are at roughly the same time.  Because the Jewish year is on a lunar calendar -- sometimes that means Hanukkah starts as early as the end of November.  Hanukkah right after Thanksgiving?  Still a lot of fun, but not ideal.

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That is one heck of a fantastic holiday gift for me -- as it means I may not need to worry about running any promotions or fundraising during the entire month of January.

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Those Lifetime Sub Details

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  • Either for yourself or for a gift.

  • Through December 26th.

All the details below. Or, you know, pick up a standard monthly / yearly subscription (via whatever subscription platform you prefer). No pressure. Everything goes directly towards that January goal — and keeping The Lunduke Journal confidently operating well into the future!

The Famous Lifetime Subscription via Locals (+ Gift Option)

The "World Famous Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription" is exactly what it sounds like. Pay once and get full access to The Lunduke Journal (with all the perks of subscription on Locals). For life.

Plus: They make a great, nerdy gift.

New Lifetime Subscriptions are available, for $200, from now through December 26th. Then this option goes "back into the vault".

Here's how to grab one of these coveted bad boys for yourself:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Locals.com/support.

  2. Select "Give Once".

  3. Enter "200" into the amount field.

  4. After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

Want to purchase a Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription as a gift for someone else? Here's how:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Locals.com/support.

  2. Select "Give Once".

  3. Enter "200" into the amount field.

  4. Send an email to "bryan at Lunduke.com" with the subject "Lifetime Gift Subscription". Include the email address and / or Locals user name (if they have one) of the person you would like to gift the subscription to.

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The Famous Lifetime Subscription (with Bitcoin discount)

You can also obtain a Lifetime Subscription via Bitcoin. Save a few bucks with this option, as Bitcoin processing has fewer fees associated with it.

  • Make sure you have a Lunduke.Locals.com account (a free account works just fine).

  • Send $190 worth of Bitcoin (or more) to the following address:

bc1qyjakve8fywm8pz2v99v57yhjj0vzr2vjze6fcq

  • Email "bryan at lunduke.com" with the following information: What time you made the transaction, how much was sent (in Bitcoin), and the email address you use (or plan to use) on Locals.com.

Nice and easy.

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