[ZODB-Dev] Repozo tests -- not

[Christian Theune]

Hi,

On 12/02/2009 01:21 PM, Martin Aspeli wrote:
> Jim Fulton wrote:
>
>> No one seems to be willing to step up and take responsibility.
>> I guess everyone assumes I will.
>
> I know a thing or two about trying to entice people to help maintain
> open source software. It's certainly not easy. But from a casual
> observer's perspective, this whole exchange has been pretty tragic, and
> certainly doesn't help encourage people to contribute.
>
> As the maintainer of the ZODB, your voice carries a lot of weight. You
> are also making it very clear that you need to be the single point of
> co-ordination for ZODB contributions (probably wise), and that you don't
> want contributions directly into trunk. That cements this position even
> more.
>
> I don't think the lack of contributions is directly your fault, but I do
> think that your communication style can sometimes put people off. I
> guess the best word I can think of to describe it is "terse". I'm sure
> it's misunderstood, in that demeanour and tone is hard to convey in text.
>
> But nonetheless, reading this list over the last few days makes me
> pretty disheartened. There are clearly issues with the development
> process. There were clearly issues with that particular commit. But
> there are few things as damaging to contributions as backing out
> changes. Sometimes it is necessary. But in this case, it is my
> experience that it's important to salvage the relationship with the
> commiter. Using words like "crap" to describe their code is a pretty
> safe way to ensure they won't contribute again, even if you allude to
> the fact that they can also produce "non-crap".

Two thoughts:

1. The ZODB as a project probably needs someone who fulfills a
    multiplier role like Martijn Faassen does in many instances.

2. There seems to be the (hidden) assumption around that Jim should be
    doing that.

I think this causes a good amount of the tension in here.

Christian

-- 
Christian Theune · ct at gocept.com
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