There have been very very bad experiences with Daniel Mikay, the former (?) lead dev of GrapheneOS.
GrapheneOS is an awesome project. It doesnt suit everyone, as it only focuses on security, doesnt add many LineageOS features, ships no Appstore preinstalled and pretty much promotes hunting down your APKs from Git* releases, doesnt work with microG, …
But its a really valuable piece of software, extremely critical for the opensource community, as its really the only degoogled and secure Android there is.
Now I am close to ditching it… again… as I am pissed off by “the community”, or more these/this weird anonymous people/individual identifying as “GrapheneOS” on their self-controlled Matrix server.
Background
Not wanna cry here, but giving the scenery:
I went into their room and discussed a bit. Points where pretty much:
- Android is a deviation of Linux with its own Kernel and way different release numbers
- it sucks being dependend on a big Corp for their Android Desktop, as there simply is on Custom ROM creating a different one
- Linux is awesome, as it is so free. Android immutable model could totally work with more customizability like desktops, and still be secure.
What happened? I got perma-banned for “doubling down on spreading misinformation”.
Prior I went into a Private chat with this “GrapheneOS” person, and asked what exactly where the points where I spreaded misinformation. They said “Android is Linux. You have no idea what you are talking about but think you do. You cant spread misinformation in our community anymore.”
After these messages and still no explanations, they left the private chat and blocked be from rejoining.
Wow. This is what a self-run server can also look like it seems.
Well, I guess I will be switching to Calyx or DivestOS soon, if I have no community to discuss in.
I would be happy if some critical voices could join the server and do some constructive discussions. Right now its a forced echo chamber.
PS: If that was you Daniel, please just take a pause. You did some great work but personally you act extremely toxic. This is not how to talk to people.
Personally, I see nothing wrong with what you’ve said. Them perma-banning you for “misinformation” instead of actually engaging in a discussion with you about it says all I need to know about that kind of community IMO, and it’s not one I’d want to be a part of… regardless of how amazing and secure their OS is.
The unfortunate thing is, I think it’s hard to maintain projects like GrapheneOS without people like that on the team - the community’s principled nature is kind of reflected in how watertight and robust the OS is