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NixOS just dropped Anduril as a NixCon sponsor

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Re: NixOS just dropped Anduril as a NixCon sponsor

#21

Post by [deleted] »

olix0r wrote: post #13
danpalmer wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(Biased, I work at Google), but I think there's a material difference between what Google does (as I understand it, from public info) – providing infrastructure services on Google Cloud, as all the major cloud providers do, or providing customer support for cloud workloads – and building defence related technology. To my knowledge Google and the other big tech companies aren't building application directly for offenc…

> To my knowledge Google and the other big tech companies aren't building application directly for offence/defence. Actually there was a big uproar about exactly this several years ago https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/07/google-ai...

[deleted]

Re: NixOS just dropped Anduril as a NixCon sponsor

#22

Post by orochimaaru »

boffinAudio wrote: post #8
fodkodrasz wrote: post #7

What is the point? Getting some goodwill of non-paying users (aka. freeloaders), while (maybe) alienating paying users? I get that it is a project that uses lots of volunteer work, but you won't pay your hosting fees and buildfarms from latest rust helloworld-webservice flake contributions from the programmers-socks wearing community. Sidenote: the foundation of current computing is built on DoD money.

[flagged]

I don’t. I think it’s counter productive. Going by that reasoning we shouldn’t be using the Internet because it was funded by DARPA.

NixOS is open source. Anduril can just use it anyway. Besides, almost every major tech company will have defense ties in one way or another.

Re: NixOS just dropped Anduril as a NixCon sponsor

#23

Post by Nullabillity »

ogogmad wrote: post #12
boffinAudio wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

While I think you're being genuine, remember that si vis pacem para bellum : "if you want peace, prepare for war". A blanket antimilitary view is very dangerous. A company should only be ostracised if it's helping carry out war crimes.

It takes a lot more motivation to raise an offensive army than a defensive one (assuming that your populace believes that your society is worth defending, anyway).

Re: NixOS just dropped Anduril as a NixCon sponsor

#24

Post by busterarm »

mepian wrote: post #5
peatmoss wrote: post #3

Is there some specific controversy with Anduril that the community is reacting to, or is NixCon simply avoiding sponsorship from defense firms?

Anduril is infamous for its AI sentry towers along the US-Mexico border.

Which do what exactly? It's surveillance equipment.

Do you know how many people die attempting to cross that border? Hundreds every year.

Maybe when the temperature is extreme, you want to have an idea of where people are.

Re: NixOS just dropped Anduril as a NixCon sponsor

#25

Post by skinkestek »

danpalmer wrote: post #9
rvz wrote: post #2

Right. So why haven't they gotten rid of Google as a sponsor then given that they also hold contracts with multiple governments, militaries and especially one contract with the Pentagon in the US on top of aiding their surveillance programmes?

(Biased, I work at Google), but I think there's a material difference between what Google does (as I understand it, from public info) – providing infrastructure services on Google Cloud, as all the major cloud providers do, or providing customer support for cloud workloads – and building defence related technology. To my knowledge Google and the other big tech companies aren't building application directly for offenc…

For what it is worth I would much rather work for parts of western defense industry than for Google.

I'd be overjoyed to help create the tools to drive the invaders out of Ukraine for example, but not so much to try to finally kill the rest of the browser market or to serve shady ads.

Yes, while I am not exaggerating I am probably a bit one sided here - I know there are parts of Google that I have nothing against like GCP - but I am serious: Much rather work for the military than Google.

Re: NixOS just dropped Anduril as a NixCon sponsor

#26

Post by KptMarchewa »

nailer wrote: post #20
ogogmad wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I think you're being genuine, remember that si vis pacem para bellum : "if you want peace, prepare for war". A blanket antimilitary view is very dangerous. A company should only be ostracised if it's helping carry out war crimes.

We can see this right now with the Ukraine invasion. The 'peace' side is advocating giving Putin whatever he wants.

Exactly. If NATO countries maintained cold war weapons and ammo stockpiles, the war would already be lost for russia. Instead we got unilateral demilitarization .

Re: NixOS just dropped Anduril as a NixCon sponsor

#27

Post by mfer »

fodkodrasz wrote: post #7

What is the point? Getting some goodwill of non-paying users (aka. freeloaders), while (maybe) alienating paying users? I get that it is a project that uses lots of volunteer work, but you won't pay your hosting fees and buildfarms from latest rust helloworld-webservice flake contributions from the programmers-socks wearing community. Sidenote: the foundation of current computing is built on DoD money.

> Getting some goodwill of non-paying users

I think you'll find they'll loose goodwill from some other non-paying folks. There are many people who code and use this technology who are pro-military. They may not speak up in the same circles as those who are against this but they exist. I'm only pointing this out to showcase the market is more diverse than people often realize.

Re: NixOS just dropped Anduril as a NixCon sponsor

#28

Post by Georgelemental »

skinkestek wrote: post #11
boffinAudio wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

> The illegal invasion and occupation of Syria by an imperial force of allies. Is it the Russians or IS you think are our allies. Or am I missing out on something here?

I assume boffinAudio is referring to how the Obama administration funded, armed, and trained Al-Quaeda: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/how-america-armed-te...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timber_Sycamore

Re: NixOS just dropped Anduril as a NixCon sponsor

#29

Post by busterarm »

boffinAudio wrote: post #8
fodkodrasz wrote: post #7

What is the point? Getting some goodwill of non-paying users (aka. freeloaders), while (maybe) alienating paying users? I get that it is a project that uses lots of volunteer work, but you won't pay your hosting fees and buildfarms from latest rust helloworld-webservice flake contributions from the programmers-socks wearing community. Sidenote: the foundation of current computing is built on DoD money.

[flagged]

War happens when the other party things that they can defeat you without too great a cost.

Developing weapons for your country is anti-war too.

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