Open source royalty and mad kings
world.hey.com
I'm solidly in favor of the Benevolent Dictator For Life (BDFL) model of open source stewardship. This is how projects from Linux to Python, from Laravel to Ruby, and yes, Rails, have kept their cohesion, decisiveness, and forward motion. It's a model with decades worth of achievements to its name. But it's not a mandate from heaven. I...
  • shnizmuffin@lemmy.inbutts.lolEnglish
    13·
    1 month ago

    I’m solidly in favor of the Benevolent Dictator For Life (BDFL) model of open source stewardship.

    Now let me show you how that exact model can go sideways and disrupt massive swaths of the development community, without a whiff of irony.

    • nightsky@awful.systemsEnglish
      4·
      1 month ago

      Projects having a self-appointed “BDFL” has become kind of a red flag for me in general. I know the term is used somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but still I find it really offputting. Ruins the vibes.

      Has happened just recently that I found an interesting project, was excited about it and even thought about becoming a contributor eventually… until I saw that its founder calls themselves “BDFL”, and then I just noped out.

    • mountainriver@awful.systemsEnglish
      7·
      1 month ago

      First half is straight forward dick measurement contest. Let me paraphrase: “My companies has huuuuge revenue! Why haven’t yours? Maybe because you are so toxic? Have you thought about that, man with smaaaall revenue.”

      Notice how it’s all revenue, not profit. I think this mindset gives an insight into why so many tech bros if they stumble onto profit, quickly grows out of profit. Profit isn’t the score, revenue is. And it’s all about hitting that high score so you can feel like a big man.