Sunsetting Atom (github.blog)

Article summary

GitHub is sunsetting Atom, a code editor, and archiving all projects under the Atom organization. The decision was made after detecting unauthorized access to a set of repositories used in the planning and development of Atom. As a result, some versions of Atom will stop working, and users will need to download a previous version to continue using the editor. The sunset is scheduled for December 15, 2022.

Main themes

• Atom sunset
• Electron and cross-platform development
• Developer productivity vs. efficiency
• Native application performance
• Industry standards and cooperation
• Rise of web-based technologies
• Impact of business and corporate decisions on development trends

What commenters say

• Electron, which was originally based on Atom, has enabled cross-platform development but is also seen as inefficient and a sign of the lack of strong standards in the industry.
• The use of Electron has allowed for rapid development and deployment of applications, but has also led to poor GUI experiences and inefficiencies.
• Some argue that the focus on developer productivity and ease of use has led to a trade-off with efficiency and native application performance.
• Others see Electron as a necessary evil, allowing for cross-platform development in the absence of strong standards and cooperation from platform holders.
• The decision to sunset Atom has led to nostalgia and appreciation for the editor's contributions to the development of Electron and other projects.
• There are different opinions on the impact of Electron on the industry, with some seeing it as a positive force for development and others as a sign of underlying problems.
• The role of businesses and corporations in driving the adoption of Electron is also seen as a factor in its success.
• Some commenters argue that the pursuit of efficiency and native performance is less important than developer productivity and ease of use in the modern development landscape.