The Rust situation was handled badly. Two languages (one of which has panics and all sorts of version issues) in one kernel are clearly not viable. Linus should have put his foot down and mandated C instead of stringing people along.
That of course was difficult in the corporate environment of 2014-2024. Perhaps he was forced to do it.
In many areas, sanity has returned, so perhaps we can get clearer messaging again in the future.
Reminder that he did this on the Linux kernel mailing lists. If I was a Linux maintainer who found out that two of the people I'm talking to, are actually with high likelihood the same person secretly maintaining a charade, I wouldn't be far from banning both.
I also certainly wouldn't take any of his complaints about cliques or brigading with any seriousness or self-reflection afterwards.
That of course was difficult in the corporate environment of 2014-2024. Perhaps he was forced to do it.
In many areas, sanity has returned, so perhaps we can get clearer messaging again in the future.