Re: the future of the release team

[David Bolter <david bolter utoronto ca>]

Mark McLoughlin wrote:

> Hi David,
>
> On Fri, 2004-09-24 at 15:11, David Bolter wrote:
>  
>
> > Mark McLoughlin wrote:
> >
> >    
> >
> > > On Fri, 2004-09-24 at 14:11, Bill Haneman wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >      
> > >
> > > > Any changes to established processes are like changes to interfaces;
> > > > they inevitably generate errors even when they are self-evident
> > > > improvements.  So let's not change the interfaces unless they clearly
> > > > need improving.
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > >        
> > > 	You're not a robot. We won't need to be re-build you for the new
> > > interface. You're not beyond the tiniest bit of change, right ? :-)
> > >
> > > 	Seriously, I've tried to give a very detailed rationale for the
> > > suggestion and your objection boils down to "we'd have to use a
> > > different email address to send patches". We need to be more open to
> > > change than that.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >      
> > I amazed at how differently I interpret both of your positions. 
> >    
>
> 	Okay, I admit it - I'm deliberately hand-waving away Bill's point
> because, although it sounds sensible, the actual effects of a change on
> maintainers wouldn't be such a big deal.
>
> 	Its Friday, gimme a break ! :-)))
>
>  

:-)

> > Mark, one thing I want to clarify: the "release team" as an engine is 
> > due for an overhaul/checkup?  If this doesn't happen things are headed 
> > for badness?
> >    
>
> 	Pretty much - but rather thinking of it as the "release team" needing
> an overhaul, I prefer to think of it as "how the community executes the
> release process" as needing an overhaul.
>
>  

Okay then.  I tend to agree with Bill that it has been nice for 
maintainers to make use of the release-team as it currently exists, and 
to ignore the internals chaos... but, I do think it would be exciting to 
allow more involvement.  Also, seeing names pegged to responsibilities 
on a web page might also foster a sense of added accountability...  But 
like Bill (I think), I don't want to suggest that there is anything 
wrong with things as they are -- from the outside.

Mark I like your ideas and if they are necessary - I'd vote go4it.

cheers,

David


> Cheers,
> Mark.
>
>