X.Org Server Development Continues Trending Quite Low

[phoronix]

Phoronix: X.Org Server Development Continues Trending Quite Low

Development of the X.Org Server by commits and new code barely passed the low amounts achieved in 2015, which in turn is significantly lower -- halved or more -- than just a few years prior...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=XServer-Git-2016

[cj.wijtmans]

I find the number of commits in 2008 fascinating. That was a huge economic depression and i wonder if it had something to do with it.

[Michael]

I find the number of commits in 2008 fascinating. That was a huge economic depression and i wonder if it had something to do with it.

2008 had a lot of commits and trimmed up the size of the server a lot. This wasn't due to any recession but lots of restructuring at that time about moving more code out of the xserver, lots of DRI work, and other major projects happening around those periods.

[Guest]

They are reaching the limit to what can be accomplished through Xorg. Modern compositors give a more smooth experience in today's desktops.

[cj.wijtmans]

2008 had a lot of commits and trimmed up the size of the server a lot. This wasn't due to any recession but lots of restructuring at that time about moving more code out of the xserver, lots of DRI work, and other major projects happening around those periods.

Could be but dont you think its possible the recession freed up some time for some people? Especially the IT world was doing badly in 2008 if i recall correctly. Just a brain fart.

[Michael]

Could be but dont you think its possible the recession freed up some time for some people? Especially the IT world was doing badly in 2008 if i recall correctly. Just a brain fart.

Unless my memory is failing me, no. Most of the major work in 2007~2010 era on the big changes to the X.org Server were done by the same mostly Intel and RedHat employees that had been around since at least 2005 and earlier. Can't really think of any major new contributors around that time nor can I think of any prominent xorg developers who lost their jobs during that time due to the recession. The only one that comes to mind joining X.org around that time was Peter Hutterer who was a university student and contributing beginning at that point.

[Tomin]

Could be but dont you think its possible the recession freed up some time for some people? Especially the IT world was doing badly in 2008 if i recall correctly. Just a brain fart.

Although all people are free to participate on their free time, most work on larger OSS projects is done by employees that are paid for it. So, I don't think that's the case here.

[bug77]

Well, I wouldn't say that unexpected. X is mostly in maintenance mode now. It's as mature as it gets, new stuff is going into Wayland.
It's served its purpose, from now the slow journey towards legacy begins.

[dungeon]

Fact is, that is about 10% more than in 2015. which i see as an improvment

But let say maybe statistic is Bullshit^tm As people should care about usability and quality there and not numbers... it is easy to make up new development - just break something

[starshipeleven]

Could be but dont you think its possible the recession freed up some time for some people? Especially the IT world was doing badly in 2008 if i recall correctly. Just a brain fart.

Wait a sec, you seriously think people laid off would end up in OSS instead of working their asses off doing crappy low-pay jobs just to survive?

Must be nice that basement of yours.