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The fate of "small" open source

6 days ago
https://nolanlawson.com/2025/11/16/the-fate-of-small-open-source/
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  • #JavaScript
  • #AI
  • #open-source
  • The npm package 'blob-util', written 10 years ago, still gets 5+ million weekly downloads.
  • AI tools like Claude can now generate similar utility functions, reducing the need for small libraries like 'blob-util'.
  • The author reflects on the educational value of libraries, which AI-generated code may lack.
  • The era of small, low-value libraries is ending due to Node.js, browser improvements, and AI.
  • Open source still has value in larger, inventive, or niche projects that AI can't easily replicate.
  • Examples like Ripple.js show that human innovation continues despite AI advancements.
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