On Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 07:27:57PM +0200, Thomas Viehmann wrote:
> The problem with Debian's processes is not that they are too slow,
> but that they are full of people who only degrade Debian.
I agree with the concern. But the reason is twofold. On one hand we
might have lost our ability to select talented developers; on the
other we have seriously diminished our ability to attract talented
developers.
The two parts of the reason require different solutions. What I'm
concerned about here is not to loose talented people due to their fear
of the length of NM process or their frustration after years of asking
pretty please can you sponsor my package [1].
If you want to attack the poor selectivity problem, on quality basis,
of the NM process go ahead, I'll stand behind your reasons, but it is
orthogonal to removing (apparently) gratuitous process inefficiencies.
> http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2009/06/msg00466.html
<snip>
> PLAIN AND SIMPLE FAIL.
It is interesting you mention that: I witnessed it in first
person. Yes, that was a total failure. But you know what? The reason
why I was able to start working on all the missing deps to bring back
turbo{json,gears2} in a usable shape is that 2 people currently in NM
have in the last year stepped in the OCaml team doing an outstanding
amount of work, relieving a lot of my duties there.
They are both very talented and I'm unable to explain to them why,
after 18 months in NM, and after AM + FD reviews, they have to wait
also for DAM approval, with an average waiting time of 2 (more)
months.
I doubt it will be the case for them, but if we'll loose even just one
potential developer like them, the whole project will regret that (as,
if you consent me, we already regret having lost you).
Cheers
[1] Yeah, I know, people will reply that we have DM right now and that
if they do not want to wait they do not deserve to be part of the
project. I don't care, such arguments are no excuse for delays
that appear as unjustified to our public, i.e., potential
developers
--
Stefano Zacchiroli -o- PhD in Computer Science \ PostDoc @ Univ. Paris 7
zack@{upsilon.cc,pps.jussieu.fr,debian.org} -<>- http://upsilon.cc/zack/
Dietro un grande uomo c'è ..| . |. Et ne m'en veux pas si je te tutoie
sempre uno zaino ...........| ..: |.... Je dis tu à tous ceux que j'aime
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