I’m curious how software can be created and evolve over time. I’m afraid that at some point, we’ll realize there are issues with the software we’re using that can only be remedied by massive changes or a complete rewrite.

Are there any instances of this happening? Where something is designed with a flaw that doesn’t get realized until much later, necessitating scrapping the whole thing and starting from scratch?

  • LeFantome
    39·
    7 months ago

    Linux does this all the time.

    ALSA -> Pulse -> Pipewire

    Xorg -> Wayland

    GNOME 2 -> GNOME 3

    Every window manager, compositor, and DE

    GIMP 2 -> GIMP 3

    SysV init -> SystemD

    OpenSSL -> BoringSSL

    Twenty different kinds of package manager

    Many shifts in popular software

    • loutr@sh.itjust.works
      91·
      7 months ago

      BoringSSL is not a drop-in replacement for openssl though:

      BoringSSL is a fork of OpenSSL that is designed to meet Google’s needs.

      Although BoringSSL is an open source project, it is not intended for general use, as OpenSSL is. We don’t recommend that third parties depend upon it. Doing so is likely to be frustrating because there are no guarantees of API or ABI stability.

    • embed_me
      1·
      7 months ago

      Aren’t different kinds of package managers required due to the different stability requirements of a distro?