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 shares principles for using instant messaging (like IRC) productively in tech work, emphasizing its ephemeral nature and the need to shift important info to permanent mediums.
A critique of Python's chaotic packaging ecosystem and its negative impact on Linux distribution maintainers, calling for the PSF to address the issue.
Satirical proposal to pay developers to delete npm modules, highlighting security risks of excessive dependencies in the Node ecosystem.
A developer's monthly update on FOSS projects, including SourceHut's anniversary, a new programming language delay, and progress on various tools.
Analysis of Apollo Federation's license change from MIT to Elastic, arguing it's anti-FOSS and corporate gaslighting.
Critique of GitHub's 'stale' bot, arguing it harms community collaboration by automatically closing inactive issues.
A critical analysis of the 4privacy Kickstarter project, examining its privacy promises, technology, and potential economic and trust challenges.
A critique of modern software development's neglect of reliability and robustness, arguing that broken software has become the norm.
A developer's status update on FOSS projects: chat.sr.ht beta, a secret programming language, visurf browser, and antiweb CSS toolkit.
Explains how reflection is implemented in a new systems programming language, including type introspection and runtime type manipulation.
Argues that developers should rely on third-party software distributions to package their software, rather than distributing it themselves.
Explores user-built alternatives like Nitter and Invidious that reclaim the web from corporate platforms by offering ad-free, privacy-focused interfaces.
Developer shares progress on FOSS projects: a vi-keybinding Wayland browser frontend, a programming language, and updates to SourceHut.
Introducing visurf, a lightweight, vi-inspired web browser built on the NetSurf engine, designed as an alternative to complex modern browsers.
A developer's monthly update on progress for a new programming language and the SourceHut platform, including codegen, APIs, and infrastructure.
A guide to debugging programs written in a new compiled programming language, covering techniques from print statements to using gdb without debug symbols.
Critique of proxy.golang.org's permanent caching, which hides broken dependencies and creates hidden risks in the Go ecosystem.
An appreciation of PostgreSQL's power, reliability, comprehensive documentation, and disciplined engineering team after 25+ years of development.
Analyzes YAML's strengths and weaknesses, proposing key features for a better successor format in tech configuration.
A developer's status update covering progress on a new programming language, aerc maintainer change, and SourceHut GraphQL API work.
