To be included in the Linux kernel a new document that mandates the use of inclusive terminology in the core. For identifiers used in the kernel, it is proposed to abandon the use of the words 'slave' and 'blacklist'. The word slave is recommended to be replaced with secondary, subordinate, replica, responder, follower, proxy and performer, and blacklist with blocklist or denylist.
The guidelines apply to new code being added to the kernel, but in the long run, getting rid of existing code from using these terms is not ruled out. At the same time, to prevent violation of compatibility, an exception is provided for the API issued to user space, as well as for already implemented protocols and definitions of hardware components, the specifications for which prescribe the use of these terms. When creating implementations based on new specifications, it is recommended that, where possible, the terminology of the specification be brought into line with the standard coding for the Linux kernel.
The document was proposed by three members of the Linux Foundation technical council: Dan Williams (Dan Williams, developer of NetworkManager, drivers for wireless devices and nvdimm), Greg Kroah-Hartman (responsible for maintaining the stable branch of the Linux kernel, is the maintainer of Linux USB kernel subsystems , driver core) and Chris Mason (Chris Mason, creator and chief architect of the Btrfs file system). Of the participants of the technical council, the following also spoke with approval: (Kees Cook, former chief sysadmin of kernel.org and leader of the Ubuntu Security Team, is pushing active security technologies into the mainstream Linux kernel) and (Olof Johansson, working on ARM architecture support in the kernel). Of the other well-known developers, the document was signed by (David Airlie, DRM subsystem maintainer) and (Randy Dunlap)
Dissent expressed (James Bottomley, former member of the technical council and developer of subsystems such as SCSI and MCA) and (Stephen Rothwell, Linux-next branch maintainer) Stephen believes that it is wrong to limit racial issues to people of African descent, slavery was not limited to people with black skin. James suggested ignoring the topic with inclusive terms, as it only contributes to escalating disunity in the community and pointless disputes about the historical justification for replacing certain terms. The document presented will act as a magnet to attract those wishing to use more inclusive language and other terms. If you do not bring up this topic, then the attacks will be limited to empty statements about the desire to change terms, without getting involved in pointless disputes that the slave trade in the Ottoman Empire was more or less cruel than in America.
Source: opennet.ru