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submitted 1 week ago by cm0002@europe.pub to c/linux@programming.dev

Dylan M. Taylor is not a household name in the Linux world. At least, he wasn’t until recently.

The software engineer and longtime open source contributor has quietly built a respectable track record over the years: writing Python code for the Arch Linux installer, maintaining packages for NixOS, and contributing CI/CD pipelines to various FOSS projects.

But a recent change he made to systemd has pushed him into the spotlight, along with a wave of intense debate.

At the center of the controversy is a seemingly simple addition Dylan made: an optional birthDate field in systemd’s user database.

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[-] RedSnt@feddit.dk 26 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I can't help but feel bad for Dylan. It's not like if he hadn't done this someone else wouldn't have had to eventually.

[-] uuj8za@piefed.social 57 points 1 week ago

Why not let someone else do it then? Why eagerly sign up to be the one to do it?

[-] L0rdMathias@sh.itjust.works 28 points 1 week ago

Blessings to you young bootlicker. May you pay escalating subscriptions and own nothing eternally, forevermore, amen.

[-] Avicenna@programming.dev 26 points 1 week ago

Why not wait until it becomes absolutely necessary and all other alternatives are exhausted? The mandatory age check thing hasn't been even accepted whole US wide let alone world-wide. He did not even wait for ut to play out. What is with the enthusiasm to jump on board with this?

[-] quick_snail@feddit.nl 10 points 1 week ago

It's not necessary. But also, where's the hate against the ass that merged this PR. They're worse.

[-] kalkulat@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

It's not like he had no way of thinking, "Geez, I don't have the experience or knowledge or insignts to start the ball rolling on such a major decision." and went on to do something useful instead.

this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2026
143 points (100.0% liked)

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