[xw3099]

> Maybe that's by design, but it doesn't feel sustainable in the long term.

That could be, but on the other hand, the Linux kernel is more than 30 years old and is on its 6th version...

One might also consider the rarity of maintainers who can write high quality code and donate large amounts of time. To find and retain someone like that one might also be required to allow them to be curt with random people on the internet from time to time. I can see how drive by contributions could get old fast from their point of view.

[caconym_]

> That could be, but on the other hand, the Linux kernel is more than 30 years old and is on its 6th version...

Indeed, and while we're speaking in broad generalities, surely no strategy that worked to launch a project from tiny seed to maturity and market saturation has ever then failed to keep it relevant in the long term...

> I can see how drive by contributions could get old fast from their point of view.

Indeed. But (again addressing generalities) my issue here is that the contribution in question doesn't read as "drive by" to me.

[xw3099]

> surely no strategy that worked to launch a project from tiny seed to maturity and market saturation has ever then failed to keep it relevant in the long term...

If the rate of submissions falls then it certainly makes sense to adjust. Until then, don't fix what isn't broken.

[caconym_]

Frankly, if you treat effortful but green contributors the same way you treat grindset morons and LinkedIn jockeys, I would put money on the submission rate from the latter continuing to increase long after most of the former have decided your project isn't worth their time.

This is a bit of a moot point, though, since I don't think it's very common for Linux kernel maintainers to behave this way. Correct me if I'm wrong.