From f51752ed3caaaff598099045b808afa4b96812ba Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Xe Iaso Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2022 12:53:15 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] stop using politics as a cudgel to discourage experimentation Signed-off-by: Xe Iaso --- ...cudgel-experimentation-2022-04-21.markdown | 53 +++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 53 insertions(+) create mode 100644 blog/politics-cudgel-experimentation-2022-04-21.markdown diff --git a/blog/politics-cudgel-experimentation-2022-04-21.markdown b/blog/politics-cudgel-experimentation-2022-04-21.markdown new file mode 100644 index 0000000..da3abc4 --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/politics-cudgel-experimentation-2022-04-21.markdown @@ -0,0 +1,53 @@ +--- +title: Stop Using Politics As A Cudgel To Discourage Experimentation +date: 2022-04-21 +tags: + - rant + - systemd + - communityhealth +--- + +So let's say you get bored one day and you decide you want to do things that god +and man have decreed impossible. Let's also say that this exact thing involves a +tool that just happens to rustle all of the jimmies (for reasons that are not +entirely clear). Then you get it all to a point where you want to submit it +upstream so you can get help experimenting with this tool. + +So you submit it to upstream in the experimental branch, expecting very little +pushback so you can get help tinkering with things. But once you submit it +upstream, [all hell breaks +loose](https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/aports/-/merge_requests/33329). + +Stop using politics as a cudgel to discourage experimentation. Yes it involves +systemd. Just because you think that the tool is overcomplicated doesn't mean +that other people don't find it useful. Trying to shut down experimentation is +how you get people to leave the community or give up participating in open +source altogether. + +The reactions in that thread are both disappointing and somewhat to be expected. +I don't know why people have such a negative reaction to systemd. It's just an +init system, not a religion. It wouldn't have become a good choice for so much +of the Linux ecosystem without it having solid technical merits. If it is really +that bad then the mantle of responsibility is on you for coming up with a better +option. + +[No, OpenRC is not that option. It can be PART OF an option, but it is not a +competitor by itself.](conversation://Cadey/coffee) + +I know I said I'd stop ranting on this blog as much, but really this stuff +grinds my gears and I feel that I should use my platform for good in this +regard. This is inexcusable. I want to reiterate that I have _no_ power in this +regard. I am just some random person on a blog that got frustrated at the +reactions to this contribution. Some pushback is acceptable. Accusing a +contributor of ignorance is inexcusable. Comments like this have no place in +open source contributions: + +> SysTemD is the STD of operating systems. There is no "one little poke", you +> can't be a little bit pregnant. + +Jake, if you're out there reading this: keep doing this thing. It is a fantastic +creation that I thought was impossible. You may have to soft-fork the +distribution to get this to work reliably, but I really want to see where this +rabbit-hole goes. + +Keep hacking.