5mo ago

Christoph Hellwig steps down from maintaining DMA

git.kernel.org

dma-mapping: update MAINTAINERS - kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git - Linux kernel source tree

For those unaware, Christop Hellwig is the Linux maintainer who tried to block Rust bindings for DMA.

16 comments

oh wow, no one is left from that disagreement, they both resigned.
- I think it's safe to blame that first one on Linus' absence.
- Sort of. The person that made the initial commit is not the one that quit (Rust side).
- Honestly I kind of want Linus to step down too. He's been slowly moving away for a long time already. It might be time for a new primary maintainer to step up.
  
  I really really don't. As soon as he does, corporate vultures (such as MBA degree holders) and people who "want to change what 'open source' means" will swoop in. If we replace Linus, I hope its someone very similar to him who isn't afraid to be a hardass where it's needed and will keep the current vision of Linux alive.
  
  Let Linus see through the Rust inclusion in Linux. I dont think it will go well without him. He is well respected in the Linux community so people are more willing to compromise with him.
Hellwig was a bit crusty about being overruled by Torvalds, it seems.
Just proves to me that this should've gone to remediation so much earlier. Losing three important contributors to the Kernel, because people were scared of involving the Code of Conduct Committee from the start, is a shit sandwich, regardless of whoever you want to blame for this.
I'm not gonna lose sleep over his departure but the Linux foundation could do a lot to improve the professionalism of the project instead of dumping money on chasing AI.
Good that there's a maintainer in place, too. Sad that it came to this, but perhaps it's time to pass the torch.
I hate that it came to this, after so many Rust devs left, but all I can say is "Good."
Completely off topic, but I first read that as 'DNA', did a double take.
At this point, an announcement that whoever is in charge of all DNA continuing to work just stepped down or got fired... wouldn't really seem that out of character for this timeline.

16 comments