Re: [Fwd: [RFC] Making NM 'by recommendation']
Martin Michlmayr <tbm@cyrius.com> wrote (on debian-newmaint-discuss):
> I have recently seen an increase in applicants who are unprepared or
> don't even respond to my initial or follow-up messages. I have the
> strong suspicion that this is related to the fact that it's really
> easy to sign up for NM -- simply enter your name and e-mail address,
> and there you go! You no longer have to think how serious you are
> about it and what you want to do for Debian.
>
> My proposal is this: You can no longer apply to become a Debian
> developer yourself, but instead you need an existing Debian developer
> to recommend you. Nothing in the NM system changes except of the
> application itself. The developer who recommends another person as a
> NM is not responsible for him or has to go through the NM process with
> him (the latter will still be done by an AM) -- so this recommendation
> is no report to the DAM, but simply the entry ticket to the NM
> process.
Many AMs promptly responded that the first paragraph agreed with
their experience, and endorsed the proposal in the second paragraph.
No one in Debian is in a better position to know the truth of these
facts than those who give their time to the new maintainer process.
I believe Martin's proposal is a very sound approach to solving
the problem he cited. If people object to this as improperly elitist,
they are clearly mistaken. As Manoj has pointed out, Debian _is_
unashamedly elitist, in the best sense of the word.
As a minimum first step, if Martin's proposal is bogged down in
a typical -devel flamewar, I suggest that applicants be required to
actually write an e-mail rather than fill in three boxes on a web
form.
Bob
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|_) _ |_ Robert D. Hilliard <hilliard@debian.org>
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