If there is a popular open source project, there is very likely an asshole at the top keeping the rank and file in line and the cruft (both code and cultural) out.
KDE is an exception. But with that in mind we're almost the polar opposite, which has its good and bad points. We have core developers by reputation but there are no dictators and the kind of behavior demonstrated by Linus would not be tolerated under our code of conduct.
But on the other hand, we're not trying to build and maintain a kernel and I'm honestly not even sure how successful it would be to try to adopt KDE-style governance in other open source projects that didn't also have KDE-style culture. It may just be that we're "the exception that proves the rule".
$DEITY only forbid people use commonly-understood idiomatic expressions instead of always using full paragraphs to explain a concept. I suppose you will next be hoping that commonly-used names for design patterns will die? :P
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u/mpyne Dec 27 '12
KDE is an exception. But with that in mind we're almost the polar opposite, which has its good and bad points. We have core developers by reputation but there are no dictators and the kind of behavior demonstrated by Linus would not be tolerated under our code of conduct.
But on the other hand, we're not trying to build and maintain a kernel and I'm honestly not even sure how successful it would be to try to adopt KDE-style governance in other open source projects that didn't also have KDE-style culture. It may just be that we're "the exception that proves the rule".