Drew DeVault’s blog features sharp commentary on open source, software engineering, programming languages, ethics in tech, and the social impact of technology.
374 articles from this blog
A guide to configuring the aerc email client for a git send-email workflow, including custom keybindings for patch review and merging.
A developer's monthly update on Wayland book progress, wlroots/Sway improvements, and SourceHut/secret project work.
A developer explains their unconventional, branchless Git workflow, working directly on master and using rebase to organize changes.
A developer details using CAD software and a 3D printer to design and fabricate a replacement plastic part for his 1984 Dodge truck.
Critique of web browser feature bloat and complexity, arguing it's now impossible to build a new competitive browser engine.
A critical analysis of GitHub's new notifications UI, arguing it's a step backwards in usability and workflow efficiency for developers.
A software expert's open letter opposing the EARN IT Act, arguing it threatens essential end-to-end encryption and digital freedoms.
Explores the concept of the heliopause in space as a metaphor for the C programming language's dominance and its ABI's role as a critical interface in software.
A software engineer argues that effective performance optimization requires understanding system bottlenecks and applying a scientific, evidence-based approach.
A passionate critique of the modern laptop market, praising the durable and serviceable ThinkPad X200 while lamenting current flawed offerings.
A developer's monthly update covering releases for Sway, wlroots, aerc, and SourceHut improvements, alongside personal cooking notes.
A critique of modern software's over-reliance on dependencies, sparked by a FOSDEM talk on open source sustainability and maintainer burnout.
A retrospective on KnightOS, a Unix-like operating system written in assembly for TI z80 calculators, focusing on its unique constraints and design.
A FOSS maintainer reflects on the unique joys and intense stresses of working full-time on free and open-source software projects.
A maintainer's perspective on effective open-source project governance, advocating for the BDFL model over rigid codes of conduct.
Developer's January 2020 update covering FOSDEM, Sway 1.3, Wayland book, SourceHut improvements, and work on himitsu and mrsh.
A follow-up analysis on programming language complexity and abstraction, using 'Hello World' program comparisons to critique modern software bloat.
Analyzes the system calls and binary size of a simple "hello world" program across multiple programming languages, from assembly to Python.
A developer explains his simple system for managing dotfiles by turning his $HOME directory into a git repository with a clever .gitignore.
A detailed review of the PinePhone, a Linux-based smartphone, focusing on its hardware, current software limitations, and target developer audience.
