The Digital Press

Ruby Central, a nonprofit supporting RubyGems.org, took control of the RubyGems and Bundler repositories from longstanding volunteer maintainers in what many call a hostile takeover, citing supply-chain security needs and funding pressures, especially from sponsors like Shopify. This move has deeply divided the Ruby community and led former maintainers to start an alternative project, gem.coop.

Why it matters: The takeover disrupts decades of volunteer-led open-source stewardship, threatening trust and governance in the Ruby ecosystem.

The stakes: Loss of maintainer access and control raises concerns about project security, governance transparency, and long-term sustainability.

The big picture: Funding shortfalls, controversial sponsorships, and community conflicts highlight challenges in nonprofit open-source project management.

Commenters say: Many express disappointment over the drama harming the Ruby community, debate the role of key figures, and emphasize moving forward constructively.