Pointing at my "I need context" sign above my "I need context" hat while wearing my "I need context" shirt

Need linux pugjesus!

Everything alright at home?

I have spent the last 24 hours trying to install Windows because it decided to delete its bootloader during an update. Somehow it keeps failing in many different ways. Never had such a big headache with Linux. But sure, it's not user friendly.

Context: https://lore.kernel.org/linux-media/CAHk-=wi4zC+Ze8e+p3tMv8TtG_80KzsZ1syL9anBtmEh5Z40vg@mail.gmail.com/

Damn, things are heating up. This one is definitely worth a read, and it sounds like a goodbye, considering that this attitude surely isn't compatible with a longterm continued work relationship: https://lore.kernel.org/linux-media/20260716112048.2dc10a3f@hermes.development.it/

Though I do think that it's worth remembering that this discussion is about code analysis tools, not code generation tools. The choices don't look particular great, considering that malicious actors won't have any qualms about using AI tools to discover exploits.

This is actually eye-opening. One problem I have is: the sponsors of LF basically own Linux and control it? Linus doesn't have any of his own personal opinions on top of that?

If that's really true, then what is even the point of having a 'Linux Foundation'? Because I'm like 99% sure Linux as a whole won't ever have a lack of sponsors.

Probably a bit of both, Torvalds is clearly no Stallman, in good and bad ways. People have a way to justify things to themselves that happen to benefit them ... Linux would be a very different project if it didn't have that US tech corp money.

Organizations like the LF are also useful for coordinating the interests of the various stakeholders, regardless of what one thinks of whether these interests are worthwhile.

Get ready for the same issues appearing on Linux too!

If not corruption, why corruption-shaped?

Torvalds said it's better to find a controlled way of dealing with AI contributions than trying to fight it.

Apparently that's considered scandalous (by people only reading headlines).

There are other questions around AI (like what the economy of it will
actually look like in the end), but "is it useful" is no longer one of
those questions. Anybody who doubts that clearly hasn't actually used
it.

Yes, it can also be a somewhat painful tool, both for maintainer
workloads and just from a "it keeps finding embarrassing bugs"
standpoint.

But the solution is not to put your head in the sand and sing "La La
La, I can't hear you" at the top of your voice like some people seem
to do.

The solution is to make sure those LLM tools help maintainers
instead of just causing them pain. There's no question on that side.

We're not forcing anybody to use it, but I will very loudly ignore
people who try to argue against other people from using it.

And no, AI isn't perfect. But Christ, anybody who points to the
problems at AI had better be looking in the mirror and pointing at
themselves at the same time.

Because it's not like natural intelligence is always all that great either.

Because it should be scandalous. Give one inch to the corpos, they will take a mile. Give them "rational adaptation", they will demand a fully vibe-coded kernel.

On a systemic level, yes. On an individual "I have a crazy big software project to lead", no.

Analogy, a responsible parent makes their kids wear a helmet. Even though car-centric infrastructure is the real problem. The bicycle itself is not dangerous. The car is.

So, on a systemic level we should fix the root cause. We should further regulate cars and make the infrastructure less car-centric. On an individual level a kid should still wear a helmet.

Featured in this show:
The kid: the kernel
The parent: Torvalds
The helmet: Guidance and regulations how to deal with AI
The car: AI

Real big brain centrist energy here.

Systems are made up by individuals. Individuals bending over to AI, especially big name projects like Linux, will just legitimize it. Get ready for a few extra years of AI slop!

You are missing the gnu, if you're calling it an OS.

Never had them. Have been using Linux for 10 years. I did have a problem where Snapper decided to delete GRUB whenever I removed a snapshot, which was extremely annoying, but at least I could just boot a live image and run grub-install to fix it.

Even if he allows AI contributions, Linus feels like the type to call out slop loudly when he sees it.

Dealing with Windows' bootloader is a pain in my experience. At least with Linux there's good documentation and tooling.

Well, get ready for them arriving to Linux!

no one that uses cli will be ENRAGED that they added gui features

it's not so much "bending" as it is treating ai as a potentially-useful tool when done right. Which it totally is.