this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2024
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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[–] meekah 16 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I'm OOTL. Why are people upset with Torvalds?

[–] [email protected] 75 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

He followed legal advice from lawyers and removed some russians from being kernel maintainers to comply with sanctions.

[–] jaxxed 15 points 1 month ago (1 children)

He went beyond that. "As a Finn, do you really expect me to up in arms to support the Russians..."

Bravo, slow-clap.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I mean, do you? This is a violation by Russia of another sovereign state. Thus, everyone in Russia is affected by the consequences of that action.

The Russian kernel coders, no matter their innocence, are subjects of a nation that can compel them to misbehave.

Now, if they were leaving Russia and defecting, that's another matter, where they are pulling their individual sovereignty away from the Russian state.

[–] jaxxed 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I have no problems with the action, and I have no problems with his attitude.

The effort to isolate Russia is an acceptable result of the Russian violent invasion. Russian citizens are not to blame for their nation's behaviour, but they do share responsibility.

Removing contributes from the maintainers list is not an extreme action, but it is important as a statement.

As for not feeling the need to defend the Russian citizens, it is nearly righteous for people from nation's that have been bullied by their neighbours.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (4 children)

People are more mad about how he did it rather than just the action he took. If he just explained why without being a prick nobody would care.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

"Without being a prick" Dawg being a prick is his primary way of communication, power to him

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

There will always be something to pick at, and with the number of trolls on here to inflame and manipulate any legitimate concerns, i highly suspect the troll farms and related pawns would find something to bitch about.

The fact is, not everyone has the EQ to state the issue perfectly clearly in terms everyone can accept.

"No, do you really expect me to look past what Russia is doing? Absolutely fucking no," is basically reasonable.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

Only those with ties to Russian Government? like govt jobs etc? or all?

[–] Nibodhika 13 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Yes, only those with ties to the war, e.g. people who work for companies that develop software used on Russian drones.

But people are angry that this wasn't explained from the beginning.

[–] Nalivai 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's companies that under sanctions, it's not only drones, its banks that finance the war, and companies that are trying to censor the internet and destroy the privacy, that sort of things.

[–] Nibodhika 1 points 1 month ago

Yes, the drones was just an example, hence the "example given" before it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago

I understand why people were mad it wasn’t made clear in the beginning. if it’s just people with ties to the war then it’s a good thing they did.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

How would you even know what ties a person has when the problem is government level security. Besides, Russia doesn't exactly work on government payrolls anyway, it's more about working in subsidiary companies owned by the oligarchs who are able to skirt the law effectively becoming the government in the process. It's totally foreign to Western style government, there is nothing like it in the world

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

It's very simple. The US government maintains a list of sanctioned entities and companies. US citizens and businesses are not allowed to do business with these entities. Most of the removed maintainers either used their company email, or very publicly are employees of these sanctioned companies.

There's no investigation of connections or anything complicated going on here.

Also, if you think corporations becoming effective government is some Russia specific thing, I have a bridge to sell you.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago

There are points of power (like code run all over the world) that are desirable targets for malicious actors.

So, those who are subject to a malicious foreign power, whether they are innocent or not, because they are subject to a power that is not innocent.

We don't need to attack those people, but we need to deny the Russian state the capacity to affect those points of power where we can. They claim Russian citizenry, and so they are impacted by Russia's choices, and the international responses to Russia's actions.

[–] argarath 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

He took the authorization for a bunch of Russians from being able to keep working on the Linux stuff. I'm def not remembering everything and I'd suggest you searching any news about it, it's an interesting read

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

From being able to work on Linux stuff without having their contributions reviewed by someone else (not from russia).

It's an important distinction many seem to miss.