June 19, 2026
Foundation drama, now with jokes
The Raku Foundation is born
Raku breaks away for good as fans cheer, explain the lore, and crack weird Perl jokes
TLDR: Raku has officially created its own foundation in the Netherlands, a major step that gives the language independence and helps it prepare for new European software rules. In the comments, fans turned the moment into a mash-up of backstory explainers, broken-link complaints, and one very weird Perl joke.
The big news is simple: Raku now has its own official foundation in the Netherlands, meaning the programming language is no longer just awkwardly sharing a home with the Perl world it split from years ago. Supporters are treating it like a long-overdue independence day, with the promise of member voting, annual elections, and a more community-led future. Behind the scenes, there’s also a serious reason for the rush: new European Union rules are coming for software projects, and this new foundation could help Raku get legally organized before those deadlines hit.
But in true internet fashion, the comments quickly turned into a mix of history lesson, tech support desk, and comedy club. One camp jumped in to provide the lore, linking older posts for “history and perspective” and reminding everyone that Raku used to be called Perl 6 before a 2019 rename. That gave the thread a slightly dramatic "for those just tuning in" vibe, as if the fandom was recapping previous seasons. Another commenter immediately brought chaos with the most relatable reaction possible: the link doesn’t work. Nothing says major foundation launch like someone in the crowd waving their hand because the URL is broken.
And then came the joke that probably stole the show: one user called Raku “a Japanese lisp”, which is exactly the kind of niche, nerdy one-liner that keeps these communities alive. So yes, this is a legal and organizational milestone — but the real mood in the room was equal parts relief, backstory dumping, and affectionate clowning.
Key Points
- •The Raku Foundation was legally registered in the Netherlands on 1 May 2026 as a Stichting with registration number 42050836.
- •The organization is intended to be member-driven, with annual elections and democratic participation once Dutch-compliant membership procedures are established.
- •The article says Raku is separating organizationally from The Perl and Raku Foundation to gain independent representation and fundraising.
- •A major reason for forming the foundation in the EU is the Cyber Resilience Act and its new Open-source software steward category ahead of a 2027 deadline.
- •The initial Executive Board consists of Patrick Böker, Bruce Gray, Richard Hainsworth, Elizabeth Mattijsen, and Tadeusz Sośnierz.