Implementation of delegated development teams

[Scott Howard]

Hello, I [1] am a member of motu-science [2,3]. We have 9 members, 4
of which are ubuntu-dev, 1 should be ubuntu-dev but hasn't applied,
one inactive, and the remaining three could probably be -contributor
if they applied (including me). I believe we would be a good candidate
for a "delegated development team [4]," if the team administrators
decides to apply to become one. I, personally - not speaking for the
team, am interested in seeing this happen and being a test-case for
other teams. However, while considering how this development team
would work, I have come across some questions/ideas as to the
implementation and future of team delegation:

1) Right now MOTU is a delegated team, so universe developers are in a
binary state: either you have upload access or you don't. Would being
a member of a delegated team kind of be a "in-between" state (limited
upload)? Do you see the following developer progression: new developer
(everything sponsored) --> become -contributor (work with a
development team, everything sponsored) --> get approved to a
development team (upload access to that team) --> gain enough
experience get approved to the MOTU delegated team --> eventual
ubuntu-dev? Currently, the developer path skips the development team
stage, so there really isn't an incentive to join a development team
(except for bug mail, which is what I use it for). Or do you see two
separate paths, a generalist (MOTU) and specialist (specific teams)?

2) It appears that the delegated teams should be made up of people who
now currently do not have upload access, and give them upload access
to a subset of packages. However, you need someone with upload access
to properly vet applicants, sponsor uploads, and start the team. It
seems like a "chicken and egg" scenario, unless teams are started and
run by senior-level developers

3) Sponsorship for maintained packages will probably still go through
universe-sponsors, so I assume individual teams be members of
universe-sponsors. However, prospective members for teams should
probably also subscribe the relevant team to have someone on the team
review their work.

If motu-science was to become a delegated team, what is the best way
of doing that? I sent an email to the team to gauge interest, but if
more senior developers don't initiate it, I don't think it will
happen.

Thank you.

Regards,
Scott Howard
(please cc: me, I'm not on the list)

[1] https://launchpad.net/~showard314
[2] https://launchpad.net/~motuscience
[3] http://wiki.ubuntu.com/MOTU/Teams/Science
[4] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuDevelopers/TeamDelegation