Keen: The case against upstream packaging

Arch maintainer Kyle Keen speaks out against direct delivery of software by upstream projects. "Maintainers' greatest power is the ability to outright say 'This is not good enough for our users' and consequently punish an ISV by either patching out the offensive part or in extreme cases removing the software from the repositories. ISVs know this and so don't act out. After 20 years of enforced good behavior this has lead to the idea of ISVs as 'the benevolent upstream developer.' This is why Linux doesn't have spyware, doesn't come with browser toolbars, doesn't bundle limited trials, doesn't nag you to purchase and doesn't pummel you with advertising."

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