Technology

really don’t care enough who you claim to be. You asserted pretty matter of fact who I was starting this discussion but ok.

if a group of people are using the tools that he created in a way that he doesn’t like or want, is he not entitled to make a change to stop that from happening?

In short no. At least not if you're software is GPL, then you don't have any say in how its used. Its the bargain we make when we choose an open license as it specifically grants the right to use software freely. So up to last year, he has no say in how its used. And honestly, If download and compile the CC version today he doesn't get any say either. For the most part even proprietary software like Windows don't get a lot of say in how things are used either if you pay for it.

at that point the whole community could fork the repo and do their own thing. but no, entitled shitlord users want to post ragebait shitposts and call the dude an asshole for putting his foot down and drawing a line

There are forks of the GPL code. They're in the fork tab in github. Also a trip to google finds this version https://github.com/libretro/swanstation which appears to have been forked for 4 years now. There are also other PS emulators that seem more popular in things like retropie where it would be more widely distributed so not sure how much interest there actually is.

because he’s had enough of entitled shitlord package managers. Genuine question, what did the package managers do that's so "shitlord"? I can guess about bug reports or complaints about licensing(guess because issues are closed) but really don't know what he's mad about the packaging thing. There are some community aur's but they seem fine.

1. duckstation-git "most popular" clones the github source and compiles it locally. Its downloading the source directly so can't be any more unmodified and allowed under the restrictive CC license.
2. duckstation-qt-bin downloads the app image from the official github and extracts
3. duckstation - Also builds from source but pinned to old gpl release. looks to patch and update some libraries for compatibility? GPL code so modifications fair game.
4. duckstation-preview-latest-bin also just downloads app image and extracts

So none of the aurs distribute anything built on arch infrastructure, its all unmodified versions exactly like his license and readme specify.

the guy didn’t do anything wrong, because as the maintainer he has the sole responsibility and vision of where he wants to take his project

Sure, he can do what ever he wants I guess. Accept what ever PR, commit what ever code. He can even delete everything tomorrow(I believe he's done it before?) because he thinks neclimdul specifically is a jerk and was mean to him on lemmy and no other reason. That doesn't make his decision good or reasonable or right. I mean you don't seem to like me but I hope you get my point.

But just to really be clear why I think this was a jerk move, https://github.com/stenzek/duckstation/blob/master/CMakeModules/DuckStationBuildSummary.cmake#L38

This doesn't block packaging, it blocks compiling on any arch system. Its a poison pill because he didn't like some people using a specific distro and doesn't really affect me but strikes me as pretty petty.