Such an inportant article, and not just for kernel development
Such an inportant article, and not just for kernel development
Posted Sep 14, 2025 20:53 UTC (Sun) by sdalley (subscriber, #18550)Parent article: Creating a healthy kernel subsystem community
Maybe it's because, after reading it, all one can do is shake one's head and say, well, the man's right!
Software guys are, much more than average, often compulsive hyperactive-obsessive-detail-oriented-perfectionist types. Great virtues so long as they don't start taking over the show.
Hopefully this article saves some of us from becoming short-fuse tunnel-visioned hot-tempered jerks or burning out completely. Life is far more than programming.
"Mens sana in corpore sano" as the Romans used to say. I've found it works in both directions.
Posted Sep 15, 2025 0:12 UTC (Mon)
by neilbrown (subscriber, #359)
[Link] (3 responses)
Posted Sep 15, 2025 14:54 UTC (Mon)
by koverstreet (✭ supporter ✭, #4296)
[Link]
But you spend all your time just bouncing from one cool project that only benefits the community to another!
It must be such an idyllic life :)
Posted Sep 20, 2025 7:32 UTC (Sat)
by ssmith32 (subscriber, #72404)
[Link] (1 responses)
Um. There certainly have been a few incidents in the kernel community where it does seem like people didn't believe that to be true. Entire screeds have been written that basically boil down to "being a jerk is actually good".
And, to wit, dismissing the idea that gently reminding people to be considerate to others is beneficial, using acerbic sarcasm as the main rhetorical tool, may not be the most effective argument. It rather undermines itself, in fact.
Posted Sep 20, 2025 11:32 UTC (Sat)
by pizza (subscriber, #46)
[Link]
...As the saying goes, the fish rots from the head down.
Posted Sep 15, 2025 19:02 UTC (Mon)
by ma4ris8 (subscriber, #170509)
[Link]
Such an important article, and not just for kernel development
Isn't it just someone saying "life is hard and this is how I deal with it"?
Certainly there is value in that but we will all have different experiences and different struggles and different values and so will often need different strategies.
I find this sort of talk contains a mixture of "not relevant to me" (burnout is not something I've experienced) and "isn't that obvious?" (Being nice to people has rewards! Who knew?).
That doesn't mean there is no value in the talk - it can be helpful to find that others have similar experiences and find similar solutions - but I don't see it the way you seem to.
And do you really think it will change anyone's behavior? I'm reminded of a lightbulb joke:
Q: how many social workers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: only one but the light bulb must WANT to change.
Such an important article, and not just for kernel development
Such an important article, and not just for kernel development
Such an important article, and not just for kernel development
Such an inportant article, and not just for kernel development
Just noticed it. After short quick check,
there are many good recommendations
for improving co-operation.