[sergeykish]

Alternative! Software distributions - community maintained packages.

As Arch Linux user if I found a software I like and want to help with distribution I can create package and push it to AUR [1]. This works as recipe - list of make and run dependencies, configuration, installation. Package is not safe and should be reviewed on installation.

Popular package may be pulled to official repository [2], distributed in binary form. "community" repository maintained by Trusted Users [3], "core" and "extra" by Arch Linux Developers [4]. It is evergreen - rolling release. Some distributions provide Stable releases which should be even safer.

Distributions may remove package, block version, patch to its standards. I think if opt-out addons were distributed by Debian they would be patched to opt-in.

In other words - many 3rd party distributions, by users to users, pulled - not pushed, not required to accept all packages.

[1] https://aur.archlinux.org/

[2] https://www.archlinux.org/packages/

[3] https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Trusted_Users

[4] https://www.archlinux.org/people/developers/

[dfabulich]

"many 3rd party distributions, by users to users" is not how Arch works. Arch has a single official repository, AUR, that everybody uses. Becoming a Trusted User requires you to run for office under a standard voting procedure with bylaws.

[sergeykish]

I've described that in Arch part. Arch has several official repositories [0] and AUR is not one of them. I've also mentioned Debian.

"many 3rd party distributions" is many distributions - Debian, Arch, Gentoo, Fedora, Mint, etc. It is often cited as inefficient but it provides choice. And if there was only one distribution it would create too much pressure on maintainer not to sell its users.

"by users to users" is general description of distribution. I would be surprised if distribution maintainers does not use distribution they work on.

I've created my own addon and shared it [0] - just a few lines. From user to users - just because someone may find it useful.

I understand it is hard to maintain community and trust. Anyone can create distribution but real working distribution is a lot of work. But it should start somewhere. I review addons I install, I can share it.

[0] https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Official_repositories

[1] https://github.com/sergeykish/hide-scrollbars

[Dayshine]

Then those users mess up dependencies, or simply forget to update the package for a few years.

Then open source maintainers get spammed with angry users because of a poor user experience they can't control.

[sergeykish]

That is general problem with Open Source - people expect product and authors provide tools.

Free as "paid by data collection and advertisement" really messed peoples mind. Walking around, thinking "I am a product, my data is valuable". Not for me. The whole story is unfortunate. But there is also Pulse Audio and systemd with toxic responses on real problems, hard not to become angry.