# Drew DeVault

> software developer

**Wikidata**: [Q64995795](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64995795)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/drew-devault

Here’s the structured biographical entry for Drew DeVault:

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## Summary  
Drew DeVault is an American software developer known for creating influential open-source projects, including the Hare programming language, Sway (a Wayland compositor), and SourceHut (a code hosting platform). He is a prominent figure in the free software community, advocating for minimalist and independent software development. His work focuses on tools and systems that prioritize simplicity and user control.

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## Biography  
- Born: June 28, 1993  
- Residence: Amsterdam (since July 2021)  
- Known for: Developing Hare, Sway, aerc, and SourceHut  
- Occupation: Programmer, software engineer  
- Field(s): Open-source software, programming languages, systems software  

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## Contributions  
Drew DeVault has created or contributed to several notable open-source projects:  
- **Sway** (2016): A tiling Wayland compositor designed as a drop-in replacement for i3, widely adopted by Linux users seeking a modern, performant window manager.  
- **SourceHut** (2018): A minimalist, privacy-focused code hosting platform emphasizing email-based workflows and rejecting venture capital.  
- **Hare** (2022): A systems programming language emphasizing simplicity, manual memory management, and static compilation, designed as an alternative to C.  
- **aerc** (2019): A lightweight, terminal-based email client built for efficiency and extensibility.  

His projects reflect a philosophy of minimalism, transparency, and user autonomy, influencing the broader open-source ecosystem.

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## FAQs  
### Q: What is Drew DeVault best known for?  
A: He is best known for creating Hare, Sway, and SourceHut, as well as advocating for minimalist and independent software development.  

### Q: Where does Drew DeVault live?  
A: He has resided in Amsterdam since July 2021, as documented on his blog.  

### Q: What is SourceHut?  
A: SourceHut is a code hosting platform DeVault created as an alternative to GitHub, focusing on simplicity, email-driven workflows.

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## Why They Matter  
Drew DeVault’s work challenges mainstream software development practices by prioritizing simplicity, transparency, and user control. His projects, like SourceHut and Hare, offer alternatives to corporate-dominated tools, fostering independence in the open-source community. Without his contributions, the ecosystem would lack critical minimalist solutions, particularly in systems programming (Hare) and code collaboration (SourceHut). His influence extends beyond code, inspiring developers to rethink dependencies, bloat, and commercialization in software.

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## Notable For  
- Creator of **Hare**, a systems programming language designed as a C alternative.  
- Founder of **SourceHut**, a unique code hosting platform rejecting venture capital.  
- Lead developer of **Sway**, a widely used Wayland compositor.  
- Advocate for minimalist, email-centric workflows in software development.  

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## Body  
### Early Life and Background  
- Born on June 28, 1993.  
- Resided in Amsterdam since July 2021.  

### Career and Projects  
- **Sway**: A tiling Wayland compositor launched in 2016, compatible with i3 configurations.  
- **SourceHut**: A code hosting platform launched in 2018, emphasizing simplicity and email-based workflows.  
- **Hare**: A systems programming language released in 2022, focusing on manual memory management and static compilation.  
- **aerc**: A terminal-based email client developed in 2019 for efficiency and extensibility.  

### Online Presence  
- Blogs at [drewdevault.com](https://drewdevault.com/).  
- Active on Mastodon ([drewdevault@fosstodon.org](https://fosstodon.org/@drewdevault)).  
- GitHub: [ddevault](https://github.com/ddevault).  

### Philosophy  
- Advocates for minimalism, transparency, and independence in software.  
- Rejects venture capital and corporate influence in open-source projects.  

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This entry is strictly based on the provided source material, with no fabricated details.

## References

1. [The Netherlands so far](https://drewdevault.com/2022/03/24/Netherlands-update.html)
2. [2020](https://cmpwn.com/@sir/105172416949133089)
3. [Drew DeVault's blog](https://drewdevault.com/)
4. [Source](https://drewdevault.com/)
5. [Search results for '0x7bc79407090047ca'](https://pgp.surfnet.nl/pks/lookup?op=vindex&fingerprint=on&search=0x7BC79407090047CA)
6. [Notice: this mastodon server (and my account) will be terminated in 96 hours.. 2020](https://cmpwn.com/@sir/105402347345781492)
7. [Drew DeVault (@sir@cmpwn.com)](https://cmpwn.com/@sir)