Sudo Maintainer Asks for Help After 30 Years of Solo Development
Critical Linux utility's future uncertain as sole developer seeks support
Sudo (short for "superuser do") is installed on virtually every Unix-like operating system and is used billions of times daily to grant temporary administrator privileges. Despite its critical importance to global computing infrastructure, the project has been maintained by essentially one person.
The appeal highlights ongoing concerns about the sustainability of open source software that underpins much of the modern internet and enterprise computing.
Many vital open source projects rely on the dedication of a small number of individuals, creating potential single points of failure for critical infrastructure.
Analysis
Why This Matters
Sudo is perhaps the most widely used security utility in computing. If it became unmaintained or vulnerable, the implications would be enormous.
Background
Open source sustainability has become a major concern following incidents like the Heartbleed bug in OpenSSL, which was similarly undermaintained.
Key Perspectives
Corporations that benefit enormously from open source software are increasingly being asked to fund critical projects.
What to Watch
Watch for corporate or foundation responses to support sudo development.