Can someone explain why I would want to support OpenBSD?
I get, from the comments, that: openSSH is great (sure, I can believe it) and Theo is an asshole but you should compromise and give them money anyway.
I don't get why a parallel operating system ought to continue existing, especially one that comes from the same legacy codebase as several others. I also don't get why, if openSSH is so good, the goal isn't to write a new SSH or fund openSSH separately and drop the rest that can't be supported. Why does the world needs OpenBSD instead of having the talent focused on making a smaller number (..Linux) better.
Certainly the answer might be 'because that's what the talent wants to work on' but that's not a good reason to fund it.
I have also gotten the impression, from limited observation, that there are real problems in the open source community with too many people doing the same thing and not working together, and with people being jerks (or just generally anti-social or at least not-highly-personable) and making it hard to get involved or care about otherwise important projects. I don't think supporting Theo, from what I've read here, helps that trend.
OpenSSH is one of many offshoots of the OpenBSD project.
OpenBSD being a full OS means that they need tools for everything. Occasionally, one of those tools will be superior to mainstream alternatives, thanks to the very strict practices of the project (which really sets the bar for any other project in the security field) -- OpenSSH being the most famous example. Even if their tools don't get adopted, a lot of their code and ideas do, benefitting the whole ecosystem.
Their practices also mean that a lot of the standard GNU userland is regularly audited with a degree of precision not found in more mainstream projects. The bugs they find will be fixed by everyone else, again benefitting everyone in the FLOSS world.
I get, from the comments, that: openSSH is great (sure, I can believe it) and Theo is an asshole but you should compromise and give them money anyway.
I don't get why a parallel operating system ought to continue existing, especially one that comes from the same legacy codebase as several others. I also don't get why, if openSSH is so good, the goal isn't to write a new SSH or fund openSSH separately and drop the rest that can't be supported. Why does the world needs OpenBSD instead of having the talent focused on making a smaller number (..Linux) better.
Certainly the answer might be 'because that's what the talent wants to work on' but that's not a good reason to fund it.
I have also gotten the impression, from limited observation, that there are real problems in the open source community with too many people doing the same thing and not working together, and with people being jerks (or just generally anti-social or at least not-highly-personable) and making it hard to get involved or care about otherwise important projects. I don't think supporting Theo, from what I've read here, helps that trend.
I know very little. Can someone fill me in?