On Mon, Jul 14, 2003 at 12:16:56AM +0200, Thomas Viehmann wrote: > Steve Langasek wrote: > > And adopting is the only way to improve the existing system? I would > > argue that finding bad packages and *filing for their removal* is a far > > better example of improving the existing Debian system than adopting a > > package that no one uses. > > I also agree that Debian is already too big for us to continue adding > > unlimited developers to our ranks who are only interested in working on > > their pet packages. > Probably something like "apprentice comaintainership" would be a very > nice way to educate DDs and IMHO is an approach to that should be more > considered more systematically. (I'm presently helping Christian Kurz > with dput on that basis.) I definitely agree that comaintainership is a good idea, but I'm not sure how to provide such opportunities systematically. I'm always open to help on my packages, but I'm not sure how posting a "want ad" would help in general: as with all volunteerism, it works better if you're working on something you enjoy, and I would think those who enjoy working on the packages I work on would already be submitting patches without further prompting. > But look at what happened when I tried to do something about the WNPP > (and pitifully "maintained") package phpgroupware ([0],[1] - and I > should add that I've received private mail encouraging me to continue > to try to take over phpgroupware and that exactly *nothing* happened > since that thread on the side of Luca and his favorite successor). I > guess I'm be looking for a sponsor, but who will sponsor the package > while Luca is still clawing? I'm not sure what fix you would hope to see here. At least in part, this seems to have been a question of maintainer territoriality. Territorial developers are a fact of life in Debian; demonstrating that you can be effective in spite of such territoriality would certainly be more likely to persuade *me* that you're ready to be a DD. Indeed, if you can't find anyone willing to sponsor your uploads, it's usually a sign that you should re-evaluate your approach to the situation. And FWIW, speaking as one of the uploaders on the php4 package, I've already sponsored uploads of the only PHP-related package that I expect I'll ever wish to. All of the packaged PHP applications I use appear to already have capable maintainers; and all the PHP software I *don't* use is such a mixed bag that you'll never convince me to get involved with maintaining it. -- Steve Langasek postmodern programmer
Attachment:
pgpx3jzeS2GAX.pgp
Description: PGP signature