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Linux devs ponder pulling contributions over new Code of Conduct

20 points| junkyarddog | 7 years ago |itnews.com.au | reply

17 comments

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[+] greenyoda|7 years ago|reply
Stallman claims that once code is licensed under the GPL, it can't be revoked:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18081199

Which kind of makes sense, since anyone who currently has a valid license to use the code (anyone running Linux) has all the source and can legally redistribute or modify it, based on the terms of their current license.

[+] the-red-herring|7 years ago|reply
Where would it be stored these days to be publicly accessible? Microsoft owns GitHub and I bet it made Torvalds unhappy.
[+] RobLach|7 years ago|reply
“The question not to get hung up on is what any individual's choice in this matter says about their attitude towards, say, historically underrepresented minorities. It is perfectly cononsistent to be pro-tolerance and pro-inclusion while believing this subculture ought to be all about producing good code without regard to who is offended by the process.”

I don't follow the logic. A hostile environment would negatively impact the long-term sustainability and quality of the project... alienating people who would be want to and are able to contribute... it's an odd trade just to appease those who would threaten the project because they demand the ability to offend or ostracize people.

A quick gaze beyond the rhetoric looks like a silly sense of entitlement.

[+] JoshuaAshton|7 years ago|reply
If you read into it, the new Code of Conduct actually may actually do more to ostracize people.

Notable contributors have already been harassed on Twitter and other platforms because apparently their actions outside of the Linux Kernel and LKML deem them breaking it, and people love to attack people for breaking rules.

There was also no-one really asking for a new Code of Conduct, and things weren't really broken. People are mostly just worried that its going to cause more issues and tension than when we had the lack of a proper CoC, or cause them to get targeted.

The Code of Conduct also has a few questionable statements, such as not judging people based on their technical abilities, which is a super important thing when you're actually developing one of the world's largest operating systems and people like to contribute garbage.

It was also, as the Author themselves has stated it was only made as a political statement, and the entire idea of it is to push an agenda. (^ See their twitter for where they said this)

Sometimes hostility and arguments really drive some people to do better at times also; and it makes people think about their code quality and double check it before they actually submit their patches -- you don't want to be slated by Linus if you submit rubbish do you?

[+] scotty79|7 years ago|reply
Code is like science. You don't ignore somebody's contribution just because you don't agree with their values. If it's good it's good. Doesn't matter who birthed it.