Introduction
Four years after receiving our first NLnet grant, it's time to reflect on the achievements and lessons learned. With four grants under our belt, we've managed to turn ideas into reality, albeit with some challenges along the way. This article explores the progress of our OSH and YSH projects and how NLnet's support was crucial.
Progress of OSH: Speed and Compatibility
The OSH project, a Python-based shell, benefited greatly from the transition to C++ thanks to the funding. This shift enhanced speed and compatibility, achieving parity with native C implementations. In January 2023, we also integrated a garbage collector, ensuring memory safety, a feat rarely achieved by other shells written in C.
Impact of Funding
The convergence of progress lines in 2023 demonstrates a significant acceleration in development. NLnet's support helped overcome the slowdown observed between 2020 and 2023, propelling OSH towards a more robust and efficient version.
YSH: A New Language and Upgrade
YSH, formerly known as the Oil language, took off thanks to contributors' enthusiasm post-grant. Before the funding, YSH lacked a defined structure. With a new grant, we formalized this language, which only existed in an embryonic state.
Challenges and Achievements
Developing YSH required a complete overhaul of our approach. Thanks to the grants, we explored new features and offered a graceful upgrade for OSH users.
Goals and Lessons
Looking back, we realize that the grant objectives were largely met. However, the project faced a setback with an influx of contributions leading to a backlog of pull requests.
Future Vision
Project management and design remain challenges, but our decentralized FOSS model offers essential flexibility. The future of OSH and YSH is promising, with even more ambitious goals on the horizon.
Conclusion
The past four years have been rich in lessons and achievements thanks to NLnet's grants. Although the fourth project was prematurely wrapped up, the solid foundations laid ensure a bright future. Let's discuss your project in 15 minutes.