In this Hacker News essay, the author argues that authoritarianism is deeply ingrained in software development, often internalized even by anti-authoritarian individuals. The piece outlines a framework to evaluate open source communities and organizations based on authoritarian policies. Central to the argument is the rejection of the Benevolent Dictator for Life model, asserting that informed consent is frequently absent.

The author distinguishes between authoritarian leaders and communities, noting that communities can be rampantly authoritarian even when leaders act correctly, and vice versa. A key point made is that projects attracting members without enthusiastic informed consent, utilizing information disparity to promote authoritarian goals, warrant scrutiny. The essay serves as a cautionary guide for programmers to evaluate how they spend their free time, warning that honest authoritarian systems are rare and that exploitation is the norm in opaque organizations.