Bug#573745: Initial draft of resolution of the Python Maintainer question
I have prepared the draft as discussed; please find it below and in
57375_python_maintainer/dla_draft.txt in the git repository. If there
are no changes, I would like to begin a call for votes in the next 48
hours or so, with options A, B and C as below, and F being further
discussion.
=== BEGIN DRAFT ===
The technical committee was asked in #573745 to consider replacing the
current maintainer of python (Matthias Klose.) Multiple issues were
presented at the time, including a lack of communication from the
python maintainer, delays in uploads of new versions of python to
unstable/experimental, and a lack of coordination with packaging
helpers such as python-support, and python-central.
1. The communication between the python maintainer and other
individuals affected by python packaging has not been ideal. These
breakdowns appear to be rooted in an unfortunate feedback loop, of
which all parties involved share some blame.
a) On multiple occasions, inflammatory comments regarding the
employment and/or motives of individuals involved in python have
been made.
b) The target(s) of these inflammatory comments then decline to
respond to any messages from the offending parties, and also reduce
public communication to other parties lest further hurtful and
demotivating comments ensue.
c) The lack of response is taken as further confirmation of
motives/bias, and decreases the threshold for additional terse or
inflammatory comments. This reinforces b, completing the loop.
Neither the inflammatory comments, nor the lack of response are
acceptable outcomes.
2. No mediation was attempted by a party respected by the involved
parties until the pattern was well established and very difficult to
overcome. In the future, everyone would be better served if similar
issues were resolved in a nascent stage.
3. To resolve this issue, the committee has two options. It can either
replace the maintainer, or it can decide not to replace the
maintainer. Either decision will appear to validate one problematic
behavior or the other.
Therefore,
4. The committee expresses its disappointment in the communication
problems which have lead to this issue, and strongly suggests that all
involved parties be as awesome to each other as possible. In the advent
of communication failures or problems, we request that any involved
party contact a third party (such as a member of the technical
committee) to mediate.
5. The committee requests that all major changes in the python
interpreter packages which will affect other packages in Debian be
announced on the appropriate mailing lists before they take effect so
they can be planned for and/or unplanned problems discussed.
6.
A The committee resolves that the maintainer of python interpreter
A packages in Debian is a team made up of members decided by (and
A including) Sandro Tosi <morph@debian.org>
B The committee resolves that the maintainer of python interpreter
B packages in Debian is a team made up of members decided by (and
B including) Jakub Wilk <jwilk@debian.org>
C The committee declines to change the maintainer of the python
C interpreter packages in Debian.
C
C 7. The committee requests that Matthias Klose consider adding
C additional co-maintainers to the python interpreter package.
==== END DRAFT ====
Don Armstrong
--
There is no form of lead-poisoning which more rapidly and thoroughly
pervades the blood and bones and marrow than that which reaches the
young author through mental contact with type metal.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes (Tilton 1947 p67)
http://www.donarmstrong.com http://rzlab.ucr.edu
Reply to: