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
Developer updates on Hare language cross-compiling, TLS support, a new Linux power management tool, and Helios OS refactoring while recovering from COVID-19.
Explores using the Hare programming language for kernel development, focusing on low-level memory management and boot information structures.
An appreciation of QEMU's power, versatility, and reliability for virtualization, cross-architecture development, and kernel testing.
A case study on building powerctl, a Linux power management tool in the Hare programming language, focusing on setuid and group permissions.
A detailed review of installing and using postmarketOS on a Xiaomi Poco F1, covering setup challenges and daily usability.
A critique of PINE64's shift away from community-driven development towards a Manjaro-focused model, harming its open-source ethos.
Developer's monthly update on Hare language projects, including a GameBoy emulator, TLS implementation, and progress on the Helios OS.
A developer envisions a perfect digital note-taking app with infinite grids, multi-format objects, and seamless input/export, hoping to inspire its creation.
Discusses the importance of conciseness and direct communication in software development and open-source communities.
A personal reflection on the successes and failures of open hardware projects, examining challenges like non-free components and supply issues.
A developer explains the advantages of using email workflows for code review and patch management, comparing it to platforms like GitHub.
A developer's July 2022 update on FOSS projects, including new Hare libraries for templating and graphics, and progress on the Helios kernel.
A critical analysis of the Fediverse (Mastodon, Pleroma) highlighting its benefits as a decentralized social network but also its toxic, Twitter-like dynamics.
A developer details the process of porting the classic game Doom to the Helios micro-kernel as a test of its design and capabilities.
An analysis of GitHub Copilot's ethical and legal implications regarding open source licensing, arguing it facilitates the laundering of free software into proprietary code.
Introducing Himitsu, a new Unix key/value store and protocol for managing secrets like passwords and SSH keys, with a focus on extensibility and user consent.
A developer's monthly update on experimental projects, focusing on the Helios kernel, Himitsu security tool, and the Hare programming language.
A developer introduces Helios, a new capability-based microkernel written in Hare, detailing its design, current features, and future plans for a complete OS.
Google's Go Module Mirror crawlers are causing excessive load on SourceHut's git servers by repeatedly cloning repositories, acting like a DDoS.
The author announces the public release of the Hare programming language and details several new projects built with it, including a micro-kernel and a secret storage system.
