Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux, has unexpectedly parted ways with Till Kamppeter, the renowned architect of the OpenPrinting subsystem. Kamppeter’s layoff ends a 19-year run during which he became one of the most influential figures in Linux printing infrastructure, prompting wide reactions across the global open source community.
Industry Veteran Cut Amid Changing Evaluation Metrics
Till Kamppeter, who led the OpenPrinting project and contributed greatly to Linux printing support, announced on Mastodon that Canonical had terminated his position. His departure came as a result of internal evaluation systems which appear to favor those whose work directly benefits Ubuntu, rather than broader Linux initiatives. Kamppeter expressed that much of his OpenPrinting-related community work happened outside of Canonical, possibly leading to fewer points in performance reviews.
Community Reaction: Shock and Dismay
The news quickly drew reactions from across the open source world, with colleagues and community members sending Kamppeter messages of support and disappointment at Canonical’s decision. Kamppeter’s influence extends beyond Europe, having led collaborative development with the Google Summer of Code in Brazil and India, and he remains a Linux Foundation fellow.
