For those of us who were unable to attend NixCon 2025, this episode provides some insight into the people, companies, and technologies that are represented there.
The NixOS Moderation Team has just banned the guy who hosts a NixOS podcast… for the crime of voicing an objection to bigotry.
The full story:
One NixOS contributor (a candidate for their elected “Steering Committee”) stated that “etiquette" is “a set of codified social norms based on cisgender, male, White, European standards of politeness… used to silence minorities.”
https://t.co/XLTOZS1o0A
The host of the “Full Time Nix” podcast, Shahar Or, suggested that such discriminatory language against “cisgender, male, White, European” people should not be tolerated.
The NixOS Moderation Team then banned Shahar Or from all NixOS platforms… until after the upcoming NixOS elections.
Reason given for the ban: “Bigotry”.
Which is ironic. Considering he was the one speaking out against bigotry.
@mightyiam I would say that use of those words isn't necessarily problematic but rather, their use in the context of the author's message and the broader implication the message carries is unacceptable. But perhaps that is nit picky :)
I think an interesting difference between this year's Nix drama and previous years is the subject. Previously it was about proxies of "sponsorships" or "governance". But this year was clearly about targeting individuals, thus exposing the root cause of it all, incompatible ideologies.
It should be clear to most by now what is really going on, a subset of the community took it upon themselves to project this world view onto others using various means. Whether it was the use of terms like "fascist"/"nazi", or efforts like open letters. These methods were meant to show outrage and discontent. If you spoke against this wave of outcry, it would become fixated on you; and collectively they made it their mission to tear you down.
Unfortunately, repeated usage of terms like "nazi" or "fascist" (as @dhh pointed out), allows individuals to dehumanize your existence and thus gives them permission to proceed with more grave actions. For me, this was reputation assassination of my career of 5 years in Nixpkgs and my expedient removal from the community.
I say this as a warning to others who may be fostering communities of their own. Be careful with whom you entrust community development. That person will have a large influence over who self-selects into your community, thus creating more like-minded group think. Over time, this can completely terraform your community.
Stay firm on your morals and convictions. Don't compromise your own worth as a human. Don't sacrifice for individuals unwilling to do the same for you.
Nix is still a great technology. I hope it survives this storm and comes out ahead. In the short term, Nix may be worse for wear, but I think removing the toxic individuals from the community will allow it to truly thrive.
@jonringer117 This is the right attitude despite how frustrating the last several years have been. Taking the high road is an admirable course of action.
Now that the wheels have fallen off the woke regime in tech, we'd be smart to offer amnesty to those who got caught up in it. Be the counter force to the purity purges that plague that side. Accept earnest apologies, embrace the fallen, and forgive those who trespass against us.
@sudobunni Have a look at comma. It lets you use `, foo` instead of `nix shell nixpkgs foo` (i paraphrased that last command because hashtag interface) and will load the shell with the closest match to foo in nixpkgs :D
Btw, i just got turned on to your content. Keep up the great work!
I hope @nixos_org takes this to heart.
These people have existed in the Nix Community since 2020 and have been embedding themselves into perceived positions of authority while alienating most mainstream would-be contributors.
I stand with @dhh because they’ll come for me next. Eventually they’ll come for you, too.
It’s time we put our feet down and say “no” to these losers who demand everyone share their exact opinions or get smeared, fired, etc.
Let’s usher in a new era of OSS: one where everyone is welcome, and nobody tells other people what they must think and say.
@dhh@aufomm@dhh Could you elaborate on why it isn't your cup of tea? I switched to NixOS after many years of Arch and haven't looked back. I started creating video content about it to help others so I do have a sunk cost in that sense :)
Love what you're doing with Omarchy!
https://t.co/vsf9uvbobC
https://t.co/0KHmZWMuPw
My latest nix-config video and article are now available an unplanned, months-long hiatus. Glad to be back at it.