Maintainers: Hand Over Kbuild Maintenance

The world of open-source software maintenance can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to ensuring that critical systems like kernel build tools are kept up-to-date and secure.

Recently, the maintainers of the Linux kernel's build tool, Kbuild, have been urging for help in maintaining this crucial system. However, due to recent changes in the social contract around website hosting, a simple fix can no longer be implemented without significant changes to the underlying infrastructure.

A new challenge has emerged in the form of Anubis, a security measure designed to protect websites against bot scraping and other forms of malicious activity. This system uses a Proof-of-Work scheme to add an additional layer of protection, making it more difficult for unwanted visitors to access the website's resources.

While Anubis is intended as a temporary solution to give developers time to work on fingerprinting and identifying headless browsers, its impact has been significant. For users who rely on modern JavaScript features, plugins like JShelter can disable these capabilities, rendering the challenge proof of work page inaccessible.

The current version of Anubis, 1.20.0, requires the use of modern JavaScript features to bypass the challenge. However, given the risks associated with AI-powered scrapers, a no-JS solution is still in development.

For users who encounter this issue, it is essential to disable any plugins that interfere with JavaScript functionality on this website. This may require some technical know-how, but it's a necessary step to ensure access to our resources and maintain the security of the site.

The Impact of Anubis: A New Normal

As AI-powered companies continue to aggressively scrape websites, the need for robust security measures like Anubis becomes increasingly important. While this system may not be perfect, it represents a necessary compromise in the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between website administrators and malicious actors.

A Call to Action: Join the Effort

The maintainers of Kbuild are urging for help in maintaining this critical system. With the rise of AI-powered scraping, it's essential that we work together to develop more effective solutions. By contributing your expertise and time to the development of Anubis or other similar projects, you can help ensure the long-term security and integrity of our digital resources.