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  3. What is the point of converting this software?

What is the point of converting this software?

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  • samir, a special snowflakeS samir, a special snowflake

    RE: https://mastodon.social/@ieeespectrum/116030177478995194

    What is the point of converting this software?

    Who’s gonna maintain it?

    Unless you have interest from the maintainers, you have a bunch of code that no one uses and no one maintains. Good job, folks.

    I see nothing on these sites that explain how they hope to drum up maintenance, or even engage the maintainers of the original code.

    Once again, the critical part of FOSS is ignored. It’s the people.

    Not a Spring OnionW This user is from outside of this forum
    Not a Spring OnionW This user is from outside of this forum
    Not a Spring Onion
    wrote last edited by
    #3

    @samir

    But AI could also be part of the solution: A new initiative aims to automatically convert vulnerable code into the security-focused language Rust

    Ah, yes. AI. Of course. AI-bros panically looking for a use case for their parrot.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • samir, a special snowflakeS samir, a special snowflake

      RE: https://mastodon.social/@ieeespectrum/116030177478995194

      What is the point of converting this software?

      Who’s gonna maintain it?

      Unless you have interest from the maintainers, you have a bunch of code that no one uses and no one maintains. Good job, folks.

      I see nothing on these sites that explain how they hope to drum up maintenance, or even engage the maintainers of the original code.

      Once again, the critical part of FOSS is ignored. It’s the people.

      Chris PittsT This user is from outside of this forum
      Chris PittsT This user is from outside of this forum
      Chris Pitts
      wrote last edited by
      #4

      @samir Yep. Who wants to maintain AI generated slop?

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • samir, a special snowflakeS samir, a special snowflake

        RE: https://mastodon.social/@ieeespectrum/116030177478995194

        What is the point of converting this software?

        Who’s gonna maintain it?

        Unless you have interest from the maintainers, you have a bunch of code that no one uses and no one maintains. Good job, folks.

        I see nothing on these sites that explain how they hope to drum up maintenance, or even engage the maintainers of the original code.

        Once again, the critical part of FOSS is ignored. It’s the people.

        dataramaD This user is from outside of this forum
        dataramaD This user is from outside of this forum
        datarama
        wrote last edited by
        #5

        @samir Ah, but the AI will maintain it.

        That way, we can bring more FOSS under oligarch control!

        samir, a special snowflakeS Markus GerstelM 2 Replies Last reply
        0
        • dataramaD datarama

          @samir Ah, but the AI will maintain it.

          That way, we can bring more FOSS under oligarch control!

          samir, a special snowflakeS This user is from outside of this forum
          samir, a special snowflakeS This user is from outside of this forum
          samir, a special snowflake
          wrote last edited by
          #6

          @datarama We better add another digit to the CVE numbers.

          Bad News NobodyD 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • samir, a special snowflakeS samir, a special snowflake

            RE: https://mastodon.social/@ieeespectrum/116030177478995194

            What is the point of converting this software?

            Who’s gonna maintain it?

            Unless you have interest from the maintainers, you have a bunch of code that no one uses and no one maintains. Good job, folks.

            I see nothing on these sites that explain how they hope to drum up maintenance, or even engage the maintainers of the original code.

            Once again, the critical part of FOSS is ignored. It’s the people.

            Ken MilmoreK This user is from outside of this forum
            Ken MilmoreK This user is from outside of this forum
            Ken Milmore
            wrote last edited by
            #7

            @samir There is also the possibility that Rust as a language will evolve, fragment or move on from where it is now, leaving a large codebase marooned. Surely it needs a formalised ISO standard, and a group with a will to support that, before embarking on mass codebase conversions.

            samir, a special snowflakeS Monospace MentorM 2 Replies Last reply
            0
            • Ken MilmoreK Ken Milmore

              @samir There is also the possibility that Rust as a language will evolve, fragment or move on from where it is now, leaving a large codebase marooned. Surely it needs a formalised ISO standard, and a group with a will to support that, before embarking on mass codebase conversions.

              samir, a special snowflakeS This user is from outside of this forum
              samir, a special snowflakeS This user is from outside of this forum
              samir, a special snowflake
              wrote last edited by
              #8

              @kbm0 I think Rust’s editions are a good way to mitigate this: the language can evolve and the compiler can support older code. And I wouldn’t trust ISO to do a good job here. But I do think your sentiment is valid.

              Ken MilmoreK 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • samir, a special snowflakeS samir, a special snowflake

                @kbm0 I think Rust’s editions are a good way to mitigate this: the language can evolve and the compiler can support older code. And I wouldn’t trust ISO to do a good job here. But I do think your sentiment is valid.

                Ken MilmoreK This user is from outside of this forum
                Ken MilmoreK This user is from outside of this forum
                Ken Milmore
                wrote last edited by
                #9

                @samir Nobody seems to trust ISO, but I suspect for the wrong reasons. The advantage is having to adhere to a standard that you can't change yourself. Otherwise do-ocracy has a tendency to keep things in constant flux.

                samir, a special snowflakeS Ken MilmoreK 2 Replies Last reply
                0
                • samir, a special snowflakeS samir, a special snowflake

                  RE: https://mastodon.social/@ieeespectrum/116030177478995194

                  What is the point of converting this software?

                  Who’s gonna maintain it?

                  Unless you have interest from the maintainers, you have a bunch of code that no one uses and no one maintains. Good job, folks.

                  I see nothing on these sites that explain how they hope to drum up maintenance, or even engage the maintainers of the original code.

                  Once again, the critical part of FOSS is ignored. It’s the people.

                  2xfoR This user is from outside of this forum
                  2xfoR This user is from outside of this forum
                  2xfo
                  wrote last edited by
                  #10

                  @samir
                  People want to change things but they don't want to support the changed things

                  I think people should stop venerating explosions as role models for our existence and do some work to fill the gaps they leave behind. But that's maintenance, and there's no glory or plunder in maintenance. That's all concentrated at the wavefront

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • Ken MilmoreK Ken Milmore

                    @samir Nobody seems to trust ISO, but I suspect for the wrong reasons. The advantage is having to adhere to a standard that you can't change yourself. Otherwise do-ocracy has a tendency to keep things in constant flux.

                    samir, a special snowflakeS This user is from outside of this forum
                    samir, a special snowflakeS This user is from outside of this forum
                    samir, a special snowflake
                    wrote last edited by
                    #11

                    @kbm0 You’re probably right about this. I just despise them because they charge for standards documents which are necessary to do basic things. Like the C++ standard.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • Ken MilmoreK Ken Milmore

                      @samir Nobody seems to trust ISO, but I suspect for the wrong reasons. The advantage is having to adhere to a standard that you can't change yourself. Otherwise do-ocracy has a tendency to keep things in constant flux.

                      Ken MilmoreK This user is from outside of this forum
                      Ken MilmoreK This user is from outside of this forum
                      Ken Milmore
                      wrote last edited by
                      #12

                      @samir I also initially missed the AI slop element of this. There's little advantage in having memory safety if the program is not functionally correct. There are lots of other invariants besides memory safety and Rust won't help with those. It looks like an attempt at misdirection: Take a correct thing and mix with something incorrect and unfortunately you still end up with a pile of poo.

                      samir, a special snowflakeS 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • Ken MilmoreK Ken Milmore

                        @samir I also initially missed the AI slop element of this. There's little advantage in having memory safety if the program is not functionally correct. There are lots of other invariants besides memory safety and Rust won't help with those. It looks like an attempt at misdirection: Take a correct thing and mix with something incorrect and unfortunately you still end up with a pile of poo.

                        samir, a special snowflakeS This user is from outside of this forum
                        samir, a special snowflakeS This user is from outside of this forum
                        samir, a special snowflake
                        wrote last edited by
                        #13

                        @kbm0 Oh yes, this is a terrible idea for many reasons. But even if the bot was perfect, it would still be pointless.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • samir, a special snowflakeS samir, a special snowflake

                          RE: https://mastodon.social/@ieeespectrum/116030177478995194

                          What is the point of converting this software?

                          Who’s gonna maintain it?

                          Unless you have interest from the maintainers, you have a bunch of code that no one uses and no one maintains. Good job, folks.

                          I see nothing on these sites that explain how they hope to drum up maintenance, or even engage the maintainers of the original code.

                          Once again, the critical part of FOSS is ignored. It’s the people.

                          Geoff CuretonG This user is from outside of this forum
                          Geoff CuretonG This user is from outside of this forum
                          Geoff Cureton
                          wrote last edited by
                          #14

                          @samir "The Institute for Progress" sounds like another "effective altruism" wankfest.

                          samir, a special snowflakeS AlexTECPlayzA 2 Replies Last reply
                          0
                          • Geoff CuretonG Geoff Cureton

                            @samir "The Institute for Progress" sounds like another "effective altruism" wankfest.

                            samir, a special snowflakeS This user is from outside of this forum
                            samir, a special snowflakeS This user is from outside of this forum
                            samir, a special snowflake
                            wrote last edited by
                            #15

                            @gpcureton I think you are probably spot on.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • samir, a special snowflakeS samir, a special snowflake

                              RE: https://mastodon.social/@ieeespectrum/116030177478995194

                              What is the point of converting this software?

                              Who’s gonna maintain it?

                              Unless you have interest from the maintainers, you have a bunch of code that no one uses and no one maintains. Good job, folks.

                              I see nothing on these sites that explain how they hope to drum up maintenance, or even engage the maintainers of the original code.

                              Once again, the critical part of FOSS is ignored. It’s the people.

                              Steve PurcellS This user is from outside of this forum
                              Steve PurcellS This user is from outside of this forum
                              Steve Purcell
                              wrote last edited by
                              #16

                              RE: https://mastodon.xyz/@oldmankris/116029685694052944

                              @samir related:

                              samir, a special snowflakeS 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • samir, a special snowflakeS samir, a special snowflake

                                RE: https://mastodon.social/@ieeespectrum/116030177478995194

                                What is the point of converting this software?

                                Who’s gonna maintain it?

                                Unless you have interest from the maintainers, you have a bunch of code that no one uses and no one maintains. Good job, folks.

                                I see nothing on these sites that explain how they hope to drum up maintenance, or even engage the maintainers of the original code.

                                Once again, the critical part of FOSS is ignored. It’s the people.

                                Kim Spence-Jones 🇬🇧😷K This user is from outside of this forum
                                Kim Spence-Jones 🇬🇧😷K This user is from outside of this forum
                                Kim Spence-Jones 🇬🇧😷
                                wrote last edited by
                                #17

                                @samir
                                One more attempt to make AI relevant — by doing a job nobody wanted or needed.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • samir, a special snowflakeS samir, a special snowflake

                                  RE: https://mastodon.social/@ieeespectrum/116030177478995194

                                  What is the point of converting this software?

                                  Who’s gonna maintain it?

                                  Unless you have interest from the maintainers, you have a bunch of code that no one uses and no one maintains. Good job, folks.

                                  I see nothing on these sites that explain how they hope to drum up maintenance, or even engage the maintainers of the original code.

                                  Once again, the critical part of FOSS is ignored. It’s the people.

                                  you wouldn't pool noodle a foxdragonK This user is from outside of this forum
                                  you wouldn't pool noodle a foxdragonK This user is from outside of this forum
                                  you wouldn't pool noodle a foxdragon
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #18

                                  @samir "rust rewrite" is rapidly becoming a nebulously security-flavored term that people lacquer onto something indiscriminately, like "encryption" or "vpn". all things that are real and work and are good, but lacking any of the context of when or why they are good

                                  you wouldn't pool noodle a foxdragonK mathewM 2 Replies Last reply
                                  0
                                  • Steve PurcellS Steve Purcell

                                    RE: https://mastodon.xyz/@oldmankris/116029685694052944

                                    @samir related:

                                    samir, a special snowflakeS This user is from outside of this forum
                                    samir, a special snowflakeS This user is from outside of this forum
                                    samir, a special snowflake
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #19

                                    @sanityinc It’s gonna make a line go up somewhere, sadly.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • you wouldn't pool noodle a foxdragonK you wouldn't pool noodle a foxdragon

                                      @samir "rust rewrite" is rapidly becoming a nebulously security-flavored term that people lacquer onto something indiscriminately, like "encryption" or "vpn". all things that are real and work and are good, but lacking any of the context of when or why they are good

                                      you wouldn't pool noodle a foxdragonK This user is from outside of this forum
                                      you wouldn't pool noodle a foxdragonK This user is from outside of this forum
                                      you wouldn't pool noodle a foxdragon
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #20

                                      @samir i don't this think this take will surprise anyone on fedi but this is looking more and more like they're just trying to solve the 'problem' of needing expertise and healthy culture to solve complicated domain specific problems. once upon a time you would handle this by doing things like hiring people & mentoring jr's & maintaining your spaces and stuff so there would be a constant flow of reliable people who do this type of thing

                                      samir, a special snowflakeS 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • samir, a special snowflakeS samir, a special snowflake

                                        RE: https://mastodon.social/@ieeespectrum/116030177478995194

                                        What is the point of converting this software?

                                        Who’s gonna maintain it?

                                        Unless you have interest from the maintainers, you have a bunch of code that no one uses and no one maintains. Good job, folks.

                                        I see nothing on these sites that explain how they hope to drum up maintenance, or even engage the maintainers of the original code.

                                        Once again, the critical part of FOSS is ignored. It’s the people.

                                        Kevin RussellK This user is from outside of this forum
                                        Kevin RussellK This user is from outside of this forum
                                        Kevin Russell
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #21

                                        @samir

                                        Burn AI written code, burn it in a furnace.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • samir, a special snowflakeS samir, a special snowflake

                                          RE: https://mastodon.social/@ieeespectrum/116030177478995194

                                          What is the point of converting this software?

                                          Who’s gonna maintain it?

                                          Unless you have interest from the maintainers, you have a bunch of code that no one uses and no one maintains. Good job, folks.

                                          I see nothing on these sites that explain how they hope to drum up maintenance, or even engage the maintainers of the original code.

                                          Once again, the critical part of FOSS is ignored. It’s the people.

                                          anderbillB This user is from outside of this forum
                                          anderbillB This user is from outside of this forum
                                          anderbill
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #22

                                          @samir thanks for pointing out the invisible work that keeps so many systems operating

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
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