MOTU Application for kirkland [Was Re: Universe Contributors application for Dustin Kirkland (kirkland)]

Stefan Potyra sistpoty at ubuntu.com
Thu Aug 14 21:29:29 BST 2008


Hi Dustin,

On Thursday 14 August 2008 22:08:08 Dustin Kirkland wrote:
> On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 2:26 PM, Stefan Potyra <sistpoty at ubuntu.com> wrote:
> > We've got a pretty hard backlog on reviewing packages sitting on REVU. Do
> > you have any good suggestions in regard to clear that backlog?
>
> There's a backlog of both REVU packages, as well as patches on the
> ubuntu-universe-contributors list.
>
> Perhaps a program like 5-a-day:
>  * https://wiki.ubuntu.com/5-A-Day
>
> "5" might be too ambitious, but suggesting some number, 1, or 2
> sponsored patches per day, and/or reviewed packages.

sounds like a good idea, s.th. like "one-a-day" I proposed during hardy *g*. 
Nonetheless, I like that approach!

>
> Also drawing from the bug guys and their success with the Global Bug
> Jam, how about a Global REVU Jam, or a Global Sponsorship Jam?

Not too sure, but certainly worth a try! Thanks a lot for hereby volunteering 
to make it rock! :).

>
> > Also, I'm curious, as I see MOTU being more and more long-distant from
> > ubuntu- server. What are your thoughts about that issue?
>
> With respect to my work with ecryptfs-utils, opencryptoki,
> pkcs11-helper, and trousers, Universe served as a perfect setting for
> incubating these packages.  They existed in Universe through Gutsy and
> Hardy.  They were community supported, and available to ambitious
> Ubuntu users, though still maturing.
>
> I began a concentrated effort working on the base code and packaging
> as a result of a blessed Blueprint from UDS-Prague.  I filed MIRs for
> each package, and based on the results of the code audit, made some
> functional changes (which, of course, I fed back upstream).  These
> packages have been promoted to main, and are part of the Ubuntu
> Server.
>
> Universe is a far more resourceful and feature-filled mechanism for
> this sort of large-scale project incubation than something like PPA's,
> or 3rd party packaging systems (like dag.weers.com and freshrpms.com
> in the RH/Fedora community).
>
> There are numerous other packages that are important for the Ubuntu
> server, but are still under development; tomcat, augeas, ebox, come to
> mind.  Universe provides a beautiful place for these packages to live
> and even thrive while we (and upstream) get them in shape for Main.

ok, being both blunt and picky I'd take this statement as "universe is a base 
to build real stuff upon". Do you agree?

Also, I might have failed to express the real question: What do you think 
about the interactions between MOTU and ubuntu-server? Could or should these 
be improved?

>
> > I think it's great that you stated that you're a Canonical employee in
> > your initial application. Do you think there is a difference between
> > Canonical employees and other Contributor's applying for MOTU?
>
> I should hope that Canonical employees receive neither favoritism, nor
> prejudice.
>
> I would not expect Canonical employees to achieve automatic, or even
> augmented approval in their applications for MOTU or Core Dev.

That's fair, and what I personally think it should be.

>
> And I would not expect the fact that Canonical employees are
> compensated for their work on Universe and Main to negatively impact
> the Council's recognition of that work.

And that's equally fair imho! Do you think that's the case right now? or 
during past applications?

>
> > Finally, we'll be in FeatureFreeze soon. As an attempt to not overload
> > the motu-release team (and also that other people might now better),
> > we've been assigning delegates for various teams (e.g. Ridell to handle
> > kde-specific requests). Assume you were the delegate for ubuntu-server.
> > On what basis would you hand out freeze exceptions?
>
> I would evaluate such exceptions on the overall cost-to-benefit ratio
> of the change, with my approval threshold steadily rising between
> Feature Freeze (28 Aug) and Beta Freeze (25 Sep).

Can you give more insights how you'd come to this cost-to-benefit-ratio? (I'm 
particular interested, since I can't say that I've figured out that ratio 
myself yet, and would welcome any hints).

Cheers,
   Stefan.




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