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Developer Productivity

Debcraft v1.0 released: Easy, fast and secure way to build Debian packages

Debcraft is a tool that automates most of the repetitive and error-prone steps related to Debian packaging. It makes it easy to build .deb packages from source without having to manually prepare build environments. It clearly shows what changed in the build artifacts between two builds, automates parts of importing new upstream versions, and can automatically apply repetitive fixes to the packaging source code, including committing them in git. While doing all of this, it also explains what it does and helps users learn best practices in Debian packaging, making the overall experience much easier and more fun than with any other tool before, while also being secure and fast.

Using multiple git remotes for true distributed version control

One of the primary design principles for Linus Torvalds when creating Git is that it should be a distributed system, capable of working with multiple remotes. However, most people seem to use Git with just one remote, typically having GitHub or GitLab as the only origin.

Mentoring Mondays for aspiring Debian contributors

I mentor several people in Debian, and have been repeatedly asked to offer an opportunity to ask questions on a live call. I have now started a recurring video call for exactly that, which I call Mentoring Mondays, and it is open for anyone aspiring to contribute to Debian, one of the oldest and most widely used Linux distributions.

DEP-18: A proposal for Git-based collaboration in Debian

I am a huge fan of Git, as I have witnessed how it has made software development so much more productive compared to the pre-2010s era. I wish all Debian source code were in Git to reap the full benefits.

Managing procrastination and distractions

I’ve noticed that procrastination and inability to be consistently productive at work have become quite common in recent years. This is clearly visible in younger people who have grown up with an endless stream of entertainment literally at their fingertips, on their mobile phone. It is, however, a trap one can escape from with a little bit of help.

Best Practices for Submitting and Reviewing Merge Requests in Debian

Historically the primary way to contribute to Debian has been to email the Debian bug tracker with a code patch. Now that 92% of all Debian source packages are hosted at salsa.debian.org — the GitLab instance of Debian — more and more developers are using Merge Requests, but not necessarily in the optimal way. In this post, I share what I’ve found the best practice to be, presented in the natural workflow from forking to merging.

Debcraft – Easiest way to modify and build Debian packages

Debian packaging is notoriously hard. Far too many new contributors give up while trying, and many long-time contributors leave due to burnout from having to do too many thankless maintenance tasks. Some just skip testing their changes properly because it feels like too much toil. Debcraft is my attempt to solve this by automating all the boring stuff, making it easier to learn the correct practices, and helping new and old packagers better track changes in both source code and build artifacts.

Corporate best practices for upstream open source contributions

This post is based on a presentation given at the Validos annual members’ meeting on June 25th, 2025.

Creating Debian packages from upstream Git

In this post, I demonstrate the optimal workflow for creating new Debian packages in 2025, preserving the upstream Git history. The motivation for this is to lower the barrier for sharing improvements to and from upstream, and to improve software provenance and supply-chain security by making it easy to inspect every change at any level using standard Git tooling. Key elements of this workflow include: Using a Git fork/clone of the upstream repository as the starting point for creating Debian packaging repositories. Consistent use of the same git-buildpackage commands, with all package-specific options in gbp.conf. DEP-14 tag and branch names for an optimal Git packaging repository structure. Pristine-tar and upstream signatures for supply-chain security. Use of Files-Excluded in the debian/copyright file to filter out unwanted files in Debian. Patch queues to easily rebase and cherry-pick changes across Debian and upstream branches. Efficient use of Salsa, Debian’s GitLab instance, for both automated feedback from CI systems and human feedback from peer reviews. To make the instructions so concrete that anyone can repeat all the steps themselves on a real package, I demonstrate the steps by packaging the command-line tool Entr. It is written in C, has very few dependencies, and its final Debian source package structure is simple, yet exemplifies all the important parts that go into a complete Debian package:

10 habits to help becoming a Debian maintainer

Becoming a Debian maintainer is a journey that combines technical expertise, community collaboration, and continuous learning. In this post, I’ll share 10 key habits that will both help you navigate the complexities of Debian packaging without getting lost and enable you to contribute more effectively to one of the world’s largest open source projects.

Communication is the key to efficiency in a software engineering organization

For a software engineering organization to be efficient, it is key that everyone is an efficient communicator. Everybody needs to be calibrated in what to communicate, to whom and how to ensure information spreads properly in the organization. Having smart people with a lot of knowledge results in progress only if information flows well in the veins of the organization.

8 writing tips for software professionals

People usually associate advanced software engineering with gray-bearded experts with vast knowledge of how computers and things like compiler internals work. However, having technical knowledge is just the base requirement to work in the field. In my experience, the greatest minds in the field are not just experts in knowledge, but also extremely efficient communicators, particularly in writing.

Tab-tastic tips for streamlined web browser use

What is the single most common action you repeat over and over when using your computer? Let me guess – opening a new tab in the browser. Here are my tips for opening, switching and closing tabs everyone should know.

Advanced Git commands every senior software developer needs to know

Git is by far the most popular software version control system today, and every software developer surely knows the basics of how to make a Git commit. Given the popularity, it is surprising how many people don’t actually know the advanced commands. Mastering them might help you unlock a new level of productivity. Let’s dive in!

How to conduct an effective code review

In software development, the code review process stands as a crucial checkpoint for ensuring code quality, fostering collaboration, and promoting knowledge sharing among team members. Despite the importance, many engineers lack a clear mental map of how effective reviews work. This is my attempt to help code reviews and reviewers improve.

My 5 tips for efficient meetings

While large organisations scale best by emphasizing asynchronous communications, in-person or video meetings also have their place. As a manager who is involved in a lot of planning and coordination work I’ve noticed that I’ve spent the majority of my working time in meetings in past years. These are my 5 tips to make meetings as efficient as possible.

Pulsar, the best code editor

The key to being productive as a programmer is to have a great code editor. I have been an avid user of Atom since 2014, and its successor Pulsar since now in 2023.

Unpacking Linux containers: understanding Docker and its alternatives

In popularizing Linux containers, Docker brought about a new era of systems design based on these lightweight platforms, rather than heavy virtual machines. However, now that Docker is slowly declining, it’s time to learn about the next generation of Linux container tools.

The optimal home office

The perfect home office setup achieves two things: it helps you stay focused for extended periods, allowing you to be in “the flow” and it prioritizes ergonomic design to ensure that long hours at the computer don’t compromise your health.

Quick builds and rebuilds of MariaDB using Docker

The MariaDB server has over 2 million lines of code. Downloading, compiling (and re-compiling), and running the test suite can potentially consume a lot of time away from actually making the code changes and being productive. Knowing a few simple shortcuts can help avoid wasting time.

How to code 10x faster than an average programmer

What is the key to being an efficient programmer? Well, the answer is surprisingly simple. Having a setup where you can write and test your code over and over in an uninterrupted flow will dramatically increase your productivity.

Ensuring software quality with GitLab CI – case MariaDB in Debian

Of all CI systems I’ve used during my software development career, both as developer and manager, GitLab CI has proven itself to be the overall best system out there.