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The Linux kernel project is not hurting for contributors nor was it prior to LLMs. The processes you describe as roadblocks don’t seem to have been preventing the Linux kernel from getting code contributions. Maybe they don’t need or want more easy onboarding or broader audience?

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Go look at the statistics in the article. LLMs are having a huge impact both in terms of new people developing and fixing bugs. “Not hurting” is a value judgement. The actual question is whether people wanted to contribute and the process was what kept them away or talent to enact the change. I suspect process has more impact than you’re willing to give credit too.

> The actual question is whether people wanted to contribute and the process was what kept them away or talent to enact the change.

My point was basically that this question misunderstands the purpose of large open source projects. They are not primarily things people have a right to contribute to, but rather things we want to improve for everyone. Anyone has the right to make changes to the Linux kernel for their own purposes, but contributing is not a right. It is primarily for serving the public good.

I’m not surprised the processes discourage some portion of would be contributors from contributing. I just don’t think that is a problem.

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