Bug#798476: Returning to the requirement that Uploaders: contain humans

[Adrian Bunk <bunk@debian.org>]

On Fri, Aug 04, 2017 at 08:25:57AM -0700, Don Armstrong wrote:
> On Fri, 04 Aug 2017, Adrian Bunk wrote:
> > Regressing on being able to orphan all packages of a known-MIA/retired
> > maintainer would be very bad.
> >
> > Think of it as a 3 step process:
> 
> [...]
> 
> > 3. for every package where the maintainer is in Maintainer or Uploaders
> >    the MIA team either orphans the package, or informs team or 
> >    co-maintainers through an "Updating the <package> Uploaders list" bug.
> 
> [...]
> 
> > The part where removing the Uploaders: requirement could cause 
> > regressions is step 3.
> > 
> > Give for a person a complete list of all packages where this person
> > was active" - if we regress on this, it means that packages will
> > continue to bitrot in cases where they can currently be orphaned.
> 
> MIA could find #3 by looking for all packages where the maintainer is
> the most recent uploader, and no other individual has recently uploaded
> the package. This would work even if Uploaders: lists people who are not
> MIA but have stopped being involved in the team.

And it would not work when the latest maintainer upload was by a team 
member who retired or was declared MIA earlier.

There are also other situations where a mapping between teams and
all members of the team can be very useful.

Uploaders is not the only option for doing that, but any change
should include provising more reliable information - not less
reliable information.

> If there was any question, filing an O: bug against the package and
> marking it affects wnpp should notify the team who can close the O: bug
> if the package is still being maintained.

This is a HORRIBLE suggestion.

An O: bug means that it is confirmed that the package is orphaned,
and gives permission to everyone to adopt the package immediately.

cu
Adrian

-- 

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       "Only a promise," Lao Er said.
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