Nixpkgs core team disbands, citing governance dysfunction
The Nixpkgs core team has disbanded
The Nixpkgs core team has announced its disbandment, citing unsustainable working conditions and systemic issues with the NixOS Steering Committee. Despite achievements like onboarding 19 new committers and establishing an automation/AI policy, the team found the role incompatible with active technical contribution. They criticize the SC for micromanagement, poor communication, and lack of delegation, which led to burnout and attrition. With only one new applicant, recruiting proved untenable, prompting the decision to step down and hope for future governance improvements.
Our experience is that the Steering Committee as an institution lacks a native instinct for the delegation envisioned by the constitution, while also not being sufficiently engaged and cohesive to handle individual decisions at those levels itself.