Not every PKGBUILD contains a .install file. So again, it is not inherently the case that you’re “literally executing random shell scripts by strangers as root.” slackness has it right that most people probably don’t read the install files, but it seems to me that their prevalence in the AUR is overstated here.

You’re literally executing random shell scripts by strangers as root.

You’re literally not doing that. Escalated permissions are needed for installing dependencies and installing the resulting package, not for building. Just try running makepkg as root and see what happens.

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And thus highlights the hypocrisy of their “let’s all be friends” messaging around getting Apple to adopt RCS; Google holds the keys to integrating RCS in messaging apps on Android. Last I heard they only granted access to Samsung.

I’d be willing to excuse a mobile OS for being partially or completely proprietary if it was good. But neither Android nor iOS are.