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 recounts building a complex, multi-bot IRC system with features like parcel tracking, music requests, and a JavaScript execution bot.
A guide exploring the benefits, challenges, and practical steps for open sourcing commercial video games for preservation and legacy.
Announcing a new systems programming language with manual memory management, C ABI compatibility, and a focus on a robust standard library.
A developer's monthly update covering progress on a secret programming language project, a Gemini feed reader, and updates to sourcehut and other tools.
A programmer's furious condemnation of corporate surveillance and adtech, arguing that selling user location data enables real-world violence and murder.
Discusses building a sustainable business model first when creating free and open source software (FOSS) to ensure financial success.
Analysis of spam registrations on Sourcehut, showing Gmail as the largest source and discussing email provider responsibility.
The article argues that successful tech alternatives succeed by simplifying and refining core ideas, not expanding on them, using examples like Alpine Linux, Go, and UTF-8.
A developer's status update on free software projects, including GraphQL API work for todo.sr.ht and a secret project in a new language.
Tips for FOSS projects to improve packaging and build processes for downstream users like Linux distros and corporate packagers.
Analyzes the /r/wallstreetbets deplatforming to argue for open, federated platforms over proprietary ones like Discord, citing user control and aligned incentives.
Explains the core FOSS principle that you cannot monopolize commercial exploitation of open-source software, and how businesses must adapt.
Explores how certain programming language features, like operator overloading and macros, create 'spooky action at a distance' similar to quantum mechanics, harming code clarity.
A critique of Elastic's decision to change Elasticsearch's license, arguing it betrays open source principles and its contributor community.
Monthly update on godocs.io launch, SourceHut dark theme, and API 2.0 work for sr.ht services, plus minor project improvements.
Argues that software projects can and should aim for completion, focusing on stability over constant new features, using examples like Sway and scdoc.
A guide to the challenging process of designing and implementing a new programming language, from initial ideas to a formal specification.
Announcing godocs.io, a community-maintained replacement for the sunsetting godoc.org Go documentation service.
Monthly update on FOSS projects including SourceHut API 2.0 progress, mkproof anti-spam tool, Gemini protocol improvements, and BARE spec development.
The article argues for the importance of shell literacy in a programmer's workflow, demonstrating its power with a practical Git example.
