grahamperrin
Yes, and I sincerely wish them well in their endeavours. However, let us hope these new efforts deliver a meaningful return on investment. If history is any indication, the outcomes are frequently marginal.
Over the years, initiatives led by the FreeBSD Core Team and funded by the FreeBSD Foundation have often begun with considerable enthusiasm, yet many have failed to achieve lasting impact. Repeated attempts to modernise the FreeBSD documentation portal, for example, have resulted in fragmented and inconsistently maintained resources, despite multiple redesigns.
Although the Foundation has supported commendable technical work, including enhancements to the toolchain, security audits, and improvements aimed at cloud readiness, many of these projects have not translated into broad adoption or visible progress. For instance, the Foundation funded a security audit of the bhyve hypervisor and the Capsicum framework, reflecting a commitment to proactive security measures. However, the broader impact of these audits on adoption and community engagement remains limited.
The underlying issue is not a lack of skill or intention, but rather a persistent pattern. There is insufficient coordination with the wider community, an absence of clearly defined success metrics, and a tendency to prioritise foundational infrastructure over improvements that directly benefit end users. Unless these structural challenges are addressed, the return on investment is unlikely to improve significantly.
The most valuable lessons are often those gained by observing the mistakes of others. When they do succeed in delivering as promised, we should not hesitate to acknowledge and celebrate their achievements.
