Re: [Gimp-developer] contribution processes...

["Guillermo Espertino (Gez)" <gespertino gmail com>]

El 12/05/12 13:46, peter sikking escribió:
> I have given it a first stab:
>
> <http://gui.gimp.org/index.php/Interaction_design_patch>
>
> I like to discuss it here on this mailing list and get it
> in a shape that is beyond reasonable doubt. after that the
> next steps can be taken.

Makes sense to me. With the spanish-speaking libre graphics community 
(graficalibre.org) we tried to figure out how to move the existing FLOSS 
development model to graphic design (specifically brand and identity) 
and we also found that a completely open and decentralized model wasn't 
up to the task, just as a completely closed and controlled wasn't either.
So we refined the procedures until we got to a process which is pretty 
close to the one you're describing.
There has to be an "authority role" that has the final word about what's 
in and what's out, and that person (or a small team coordinated by that 
person) will define the guidelines of what is needed and the quality 
expected from contributions.
Contributors can assign themselves pending "tasks" and provide solutions 
following those guidelines and procedures, and the mantainer will 
evaluate the result, provide feedback and finally accept/reject the 
contribution.
So far it worked fine, and having someone saying what to do worked 
better than total freedom, because it's almost impossible to get 
direction from a large group of contributors without a leading role. 
Also it's easier to contributors to choose what to work on: they can 
just pick a task and focus on it without worrying too much about the big 
picture.
Some people might see this as something less "democratic", but if we 
choose the leading role based on previous track record and merit, we'll 
be chosing democratically our representative, and we can still have 
freedom to discuss decisions with people in charge, so there's no problem.
Personally I think your work (and your team's) has proven the importance 
of having UI experts among our devs and I'll be happy to see you leading 
this new process, and I expect to see great things coming from it.

Gez.