Open source can't coordinate
10 months ago
- #Linux
- #Open Source
- #Coordination
- The author reflects on the challenges of using Linux on desktop, highlighting the lack of a unified baseline set of APIs compared to Windows and macOS.
- Linux desktop environments are described as a 'rickety tower' of competing libraries and standards, making it difficult to maintain stability.
- The absence of a single coordinating entity for Linux desktop APIs is contrasted with the centralized control in Windows and macOS.
- The success of Linux is attributed to its governance structure and adherence to POSIX, which provides a common baseline API.
- The Language Server Protocol (LSP) is cited as an example of how coordination in open-source can lag, with Microsoft stepping in to fill the gap.
- JetBrains' reluctance to adopt LSP is explained by the lack of financial incentive, despite the technical advantages.
- The article concludes that open-source struggles with coordination, which is why Linux desktop lacks a unified API standard.