The removal of Russian maintainers from the Linux kernel, due to international sanctions and compliance rules, has created waves in the open-source community. In response, the Russian Ministry of Digital Transformation has suggested forming a separate Linux community.
The proposed community would bring together developers from countries willing to collaborate with Russia, aiming to build a unique version of Linux.
The Ministry views this as a way to strengthen cooperation, establish dialogue, and create a unique product in response to what they perceive as discriminatory actions against Russian developers.
This idea, though, has sparked a mixed response within the Linux community, raising questions about how practical it is, what impact it might have, and what it could mean for the future.
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Russia Proposes Forking Linux Kernel
The idea, while ambitious, is not without its hurdles. Creating a separate Linux community effectively means forking the existing Linux kernel, a task that demands significant resources and expertise.
Ivan Panchenko, co-founder of Postgres Professional, highlights the need for Russia to take a leadership role in such a community. But, he also acknowledges the challenge of Russia's limited pool of high-level developers capable of taking on the responsibility of maintaining an operating system kernel.
Panchenko suggests that a community of nations, rather than a single country, would be better suited to create a new Linux fork, adding weight and authority to the project.
He points to China, with its significant advancements in operating systems, as a potential partner. However, he also expresses doubts about China's willingness to share its developments.
Experts Say It is Too Ambitious
Sergey Kravtsov, a Russian developer, expresses skepticism about the Ministry's proposal, calling it "too ambitious".
He believes that the official Linux branch will likely remain resistant to accepting changes from a Russian-led community, effectively leaving the decision-making power regarding the Linux kernel's development with the international community.
Despite the challenges, Kravtsov sees a potential benefit in creating a separate Linux fork, specifically in terms of skill development for Russian developers.
Even if the changes they make are not integrated into the main branch, the practical experience gained could be invaluable for their continued growth in the Linux Kernel development field.
Open Source and Geopolitics
The Ministry's proposal shows the growing tensions between national interests and the collaborative spirit of open-source software development.
It raises critical questions about the future of open-source in a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical dynamics.
- Will we see a fragmentation of open-source communities along national lines?
- How will compliance with international sanctions impact the inclusivity of open-source projects?
- Can a separate, successful Linux ecosystem emerge, and what impact would that have on the international Linux community?
These questions remain open, and the answers will likely shape the future of open-source software development for years to come.
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1 comment
A better solution would be for the community to relocate operations to a neutral country.