I remember reading PipeWire is more stable than Pulseaudio because it removed a buggy and hard-to-implement-correctly feature. So not completely backwards compatible.

> What about the Windows monoculture in business?

...yes? Obviously?

> What about the seemingly Apple monoculture on HN?

I don't think that exists, but if it did then I would object to it.

> What about the OpenBSD monoculture with OpenBSD!!!!!

What would that even mean? ...Actually, no, even if I sort of pretend that the concept makes sense it's not really a thing; OpenBSD constantly exports their software to be usable on other systems (ex. OpenSSH is an OpenBSD project) and imports general unix-like software to work on it. So no, there is no OpenBSD monoculture and wouldn't be even if it was that popular.

> You know what Linux needs? Another audio stack. Be sure it's backwards compatible with all the others, just like the last dozen were.

See, the real reason that this is funny is that PipeWire is a new audio system, is mostly superior to its predecessors, and largely is successful because it is backwards compatibile. So... Yes, actually, exactly what you said but unironically and without the slightest bit of sarcasm.

If openssh isn't a monoculture this whole thing you've got falls apart.

And pipewire is fine and good? Ask a sound engineer.