Why I left PINE64

The author of the article, a developer involved in various Linux projects, including postmarketOS, has left PINE64 due to disagreements with the company’s treatment of the community and its favoritism towards Manjaro Linux. The author argues that PINE64’s decision to end Community Editions, which supported multiple Linux distributions, and instead focus solely on Manjaro, has led to a decline in community involvement and development.

The author highlights several issues, including the lack of control over the bootloader on newer devices, such as the PinePhone Pro, which favors Manjaro’s u-Boot. The author proposed a solution, Tow-Boot, but PINE64 and Manjaro were hesitant to implement it due to concerns about losing control.

The author also mentions that PINE64 has become less community-driven and more focused on supporting Manjaro, leading to burnout among developers and a decline in the overall health of the ecosystem. The author has stepped down as a moderator and left official channels, choosing to focus on developing postmarketOS for various devices, including those from PINE64.

The article concludes with a warning to future vendors to learn from PINE64’s mistakes and prioritize community involvement and diversity in their development strategies.