Why is software development political ?
It gives power over your users.
Because software controls so many aspects of our lives. If we dont keep it open and respecting of our privacy, lots of people suffer.
Political means more than just parties and institutions of government. Society and economy is inherently political. Who owns what is produced and the tools used to produce it is inherently political. Therefore software development, just like any other type or work or other economic interaction, is political.
2 things:
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Literal politics. Rarbg had project members volunteer to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war… For both the side of Russia, and the side of Ukraine
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Drama. Contributing takes a lot of time and effort. People get attached to their ideas and contributions. When people start drifting apart and fighting, third parties have to play politics to keep people happy and working towards a common goal
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Everything is political
This is basically link propagation of Lars Wirzenius’s article “40 years of programming” which made the rounds a few weeks ago:
I think it would have been preferable to link the article directly.
