Intel has ended several open source projects, such as tools for OBS Studio, a vulnerability scanner, and video transcoding solutions. The company argues that they no longer align with its current priorities. A curious case occurred when one of the archived projects was restored the same day due to an internal misunderstanding.
Impact on the development ecosystem 🛠️
Despite these closures, Intel remains an active contributor to the Linux kernel and compilers like LLVM. The archived tools included a plugin for OBS Studio that facilitated video encoding and a vulnerability scanner for firmware. The decision affects developers who relied on these solutions, although the company assures that its global contribution to open source does not stop and that it will redirect resources to strategic areas such as graphics and performance.
Archiving by mistake: Intel's new extreme sport 🤦
It seems that at Intel, the archive project button is as sensitive as the monitor power button. One project was restored the same day because someone didn't read the email properly. Meanwhile, affected developers wonder if they should back up their favorite repositories before someone decides they are no longer a priority. At least the Linux kernel remains safe, for now.