Drew DeVault’s blog features sharp commentary on open source, software engineering, programming languages, ethics in tech, and the social impact of technology.
354 articles from this blog
A developer introduces 'cozy', a long-term project to build a new C compiler toolchain with a focus on simplicity, portability, and a human-friendly machine specification format.
A developer explains why C remains their favorite language, highlighting its simplicity, stability, and close mapping to hardware.
Explains Python 3's string and bytes handling, debunking myths about it being worse than Python 2.
An open source maintainer argues that users should fix bugs and add features themselves, not just request them, and provides guidance on how to start contributing.
Sway 0.11 released with security policies for Wayland and a new bounty program to fund feature development.
A beginner-friendly introduction to computer networking concepts, focusing on the OSI model and essential hardware.
A critical essay arguing against using Electron for desktop apps, citing bloat, poor performance, and misuse for simple tools.
A developer details their journey to replace Google services with self-hosted alternatives for email, YouTube, and music, focusing on privacy and customization.
A developer argues for choosing programming languages and tools based on project needs over personal comfort, using examples from personal projects.
Explores the motivations behind proprietary vs. open source software, arguing that understanding developer intent is key to choosing software that serves user interests.
![[VIDEO] Arch Linux with full disk encryption in (about) 15 minutes](https://alldevblogs.blob.core.windows.net/thumbs/article-125ef4772ca1-full-cdbe8fde.webp)
A video tutorial detailing the step-by-step process for installing Arch Linux with full disk encryption for enhanced privacy.
Sway, an i3-compatible Wayland compositor, celebrates its first year with major updates, new features, and community contributions.
Explains how to use the linker's --wrap flag to mock C standard library functions for unit testing, enabling isolated code testing.
A technical tutorial explaining the fundamentals of pointers in C programming, covering memory addresses, dereferencing, and data representation.
A personal reflection on the history and legacy of Mozilla and the Firefox browser, from its innovative beginnings to its perceived decline.
April 2016 update on Sway, an i3-compatible Wayland compositor, detailing new features, progress toward 1.0, and contributor stats.
A technical guide presenting an improved Bloom filter implementation in C, focusing on custom hashing and efficient bit-level operations.
Argues for using plain text emails over HTML, citing tracking, security, and usability issues with HTML email.
A developer details the hardware and software setup process for integrating a vintage DEC VT220 terminal into their modern Linux workflow for reading email.
A December 2015 progress report on sway, an i3-compatible Wayland compositor, detailing features, contributors, and development stats.
