On Monday 08 September 2014 08:47 AM, Gunnar Wolf wrote: > Hi, Praveen and Shirish (and Indian Debian Users), > Well, a DebConf is about Debian, and I mostly agree with Steve's > answer: Not just any Linux conference should be called a DebConf or > MiniDebConf. There has to be a Debian "slant" to the conference as a whole. The slant here is that it is organized by the debian community, with the intention of getting more participation in debian. The contention here is giving the local community a chance to share their free software contribution on this platform. > In my opinion, it would be very good for you to hold a MiniDebConf > with the clear goals of attracting people to Debian, getting them > involved, getting more to become involved. Either technically or > socially. > > But then again, I'm just one more random DD :) Talk among yourselves, > talk with our DPL (Lucas Nussbaum), talk with the DebConf Chairs > (Moray Allan, Tássia Camões, Martín Ferrari), and... Get the ball > rolling :) Thanks for your comments. But it seems some random DDs are more equal than other random DDs. It has already brought an active free software community in touch with debian (they have joined debian lists to organize the event). But keeping debconf brand pure seems to be of higher priority for some. It beyond me how "minidebconfs have been like this always" has a higher value than "how do we bring more contributors to debian". It seems we are allowed only to follow the same patterns and formula that has been tried before. Any efforts to deviate would be strongly opposed. That is also fine with me, if that is codified as an official policy. I'm also fine about creating a new "brand" which will have a clear definition "it is an event to seek more contributions to debian by reaching out to more people and it is organized by debian in collaboration with a local free software community. We will share our experience with debian and will listen to their work on free software." I propose we call it Debian Utsav(am) (it is festival in many Indian languages). "Free Software festival by Debian". Having a general free software conference and having a debian track doesn't reflect this tilt correctly. I don't see, "no one ever done this before" or "it is silly because all debconfs have been this way", is a valid justification to stopping us from trying this under debconf. I am surprised fedora community is more open in this respect, I had given a talk on diaspora at fudcon 2011, which was organized in Pune. [1] You can see many free software talks not directly related to fedora there [2]. Now if the argument is, we have always done debconf this way and any change in content would be opposed tooth and nail, I rest my case. I can clearly see the benefit to fedora in such a format and I believe debian would also benefit from such a format. The point of me bringing the discussion to -project is to have an official policy on the issue, so we don't have to evaluate which random DD is more equal. I also would like to hear from the DPL and DebConf chairs on this issue. A clear indication on this would help us make the correct choices soon as the event date is coming very close (October 17th). [1] https://diaspune.onlinegroups.net/groups/dias_pune/messages/post/1iAbowJ35hqNpZmk1YuxtJ [2] http://fudcon.in/program/fudcon_schedule My choices in the order of preference, 1. Redefine mini debconf to allow free software talks if the local organizers chooses so. 2. Create a new even like debian utsavam which will define the content as a collaboration of debian with a local free software community. 3. Organize a general foss conference and have a debian track.
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