GabeN Is Shitting Yacht Money into Flatpak and You're Still Arguing Init Systems

9 hours ago

A reliable build pipeline is essential for delivering software that users can easily access and run, emphasizing that without it, an application is just a source tree.
The author's extensive involvement in OpenMW highlights persistent issues with packaging and maintainer politics, which hinder project delivery despite insider efforts.
A personal anecdote illustrates how community conflict arises over packaging formats, specifically criticizing AppImage for being technically flawed and misaligned with OpenMW's architecture.
AppImage is critiqued for duplicating dependencies, lacking integration with existing build tools, and failing to address application distribution, unlike Flatpak which offers a smoother user experience.
The historical context of FOSS ideology is acknowledged, but the author argues it's outdated, as today's centralized, reproducible builds and corporate support make distribution more reliable and user-friendly.
The Linux community's fragmentation and resistance to change are blamed for driving away users and developers, with corporations like Valve and Red Hat now leading in accessibility and ease of use.
The author calls for a shift away from ideological purity towards serving end-users, such as casual gamers, and warns that current biases are damaging the community's growth and credibility.

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