Arch Linux Deletes XLibre Wiki Page, Cites "Code of Conduct"

Event summary

• On April 16 (per the video), the Arch Linux project removed the Arch Wiki page for X Libre — an open-source X server / X server alternative. The deletion was attributed to the Arch Code of Conduct.
• The removed page had contained installation and configuration documentation for X Libre on Arch.

Immediate consequences

• The deletion eliminated a central technical resource for installing/configuring X Libre on Arch.
• Several community members protested, arguing the page had clear technical value.

Moderation fallout

• Protests and discussions about the deletion were repeatedly removed across Arch channels, including:
  • Arch Wiki
  • archlinux.org forums
  • the Arch subreddit
  • the Arch Discord
• Users who questioned the deletion or noted perceived inconsistencies were reportedly banned by Arch administrators and moderators.
• Multiple threads about the deletion were closed and/or removed.

Allegations of hypocrisy and selective enforcement

• Complainants compared the deletion to continued documentation of GNOME projects on the Arch Wiki despite claims of publicly offensive behavior by some GNOME contributors.
• Arch moderators reportedly treated those comparisons as harassment.

Broader pattern asserted by the speaker

The video host claims Arch moderation shows a recurring pattern of political moderation and censorship, citing several examples:

1. Arch core developers allegedly asked subreddit moderators to remove or ban discussion about age-verification features.
2. Deletions of posts critical of contributors associated with age-verification work (one named developer: Dylan Taylor).
3. A joking suggestion by a member of the Arch security team about adding a “fash detector” to systemd — presented as an example of politicization in project tooling.
4. Reported violent threats against the host and others from parts of the Arch community (cited as occurring in February 2025).

Technical aside criticized by the speaker

• The video notes that the German government reportedly funded a project (≈ $500,000) to rewrite Arch’s package management tooling in Rust.
• The host framed this as an eyebrow‑raising, politically charged investment in rewriting working tools in a different language.

Overall assessment by the speaker

• Arch Linux is described as technically solid and important as a base for many distributions.
• However, the project/community is criticized for recurring non-technical controversies (censorship, politically charged behavior) that, in the speaker’s view, risk harming the project’s reputation and utility.

Relevant technical/product items mentioned

• X Libre: open-source X server implementation; previously had an Arch Wiki page with install/config documentation that was removed.
• Arch Wiki: the central Arch documentation resource; page deletions can remove important installation/configuration guides.
• Arch package management rewrite: a funded initiative to rewrite Arch package tooling in Rust.
• systemd: referenced in connection with the “fash detector” joke (used as an example of politicization of system services).

Guides / tutorials referenced

• The deleted Arch Wiki page for X Libre — a technical guide for getting an X server up and running on Arch. No other concrete guides or tutorials were provided in the video.

Main speakers and sources identified

• Lunduke (The Lunduke Journal) — video host and primary narrator/reporter of events.
• Arch Linux project — administrators, wiki admins, core developers, and moderators (responsible for the page deletion and moderation actions).
• X Libre project — the software and its developers whose wiki entry was removed.
• GNOME Foundation / GNOME projects — referenced as comparison examples.
• Dylan Taylor — named developer mentioned in relation to age-verification patches.
• German government / funding body — cited as funding the Rust rewrite of Arch tooling.

Notable dates and figures

• April 16 — date given in the video for the wiki page deletion.
• February 2025 — date cited for reported violent threats against the host and others.
• ≈ $500,000 — reported amount of government funding for the Rust-based package tooling rewrite.